The Sheffield Steelers overcame a late deficit to defeat the Guildford Flames 2-1 in overtime on Retro Night at the Utilita Arena, with Veeti Vainio’s stunning game-winner keeping their title push on track.
The game started at a high pace, with both teams trading early opportunities. The Steelers controlled much of the first 10 minutes, with Brandon Whistle coming close to opening the scoring, only to be denied by Flames goaltender Jake Kupsky. A Steelers powerplay at the six-minute mark saw efforts from Robert Dowd, Daniel Ciampini, and Patrick Watling, but Guildford’s penalty kill held firm.
Guildford responded in the latter stages of the period, forcing Steelers netminder Matthew Greenfield into action. A cross-checking penalty to Joona Huttula at 14:32 gave the Flames a chance to break the deadlock, but Sheffield’s penalty kill was up to the challenge. The period ended goalless, with Sheffield leading the shot count 11-10.
The defensive battle continued in the second frame, with both teams struggling to generate sustained offensive pressure. Kupsky became the busier of the two goaltenders, making key saves on Watling, Sacha Guimond, and Marco Vallerand, the latter on a two-on-one break with Dowd.
Sheffield had a powerplay opportunity at 31:30 after Zack Hoffman was called for hooking, but Guildford’s penalty killers limited their chances. The Flames found a breakthrough at 38:41 when Daniel Catenacci capitalized on a feed from behind the net by Lewis Hook, sneaking the puck past Greenfield for a 1-0 lead. A late scuffle between Huttula and Daniel Tedesco set up an intense final period.
Sheffield pushed hard for an equaliser in the third, with Mikko Juusola and Sam Tremblay both coming close. The pressure paid off at 49:05 when Tremblay tipped home a shot-pass from Colton Saucerman to tie the game at 1-1.
Tensions escalated as Dowd and Hoffman dropped the gloves at 50:33, with Hoffman picking up an extra two-minute roughing penalty. The Steelers had multiple chances on the powerplay, but Kupsky stood tall. Despite dominating the final minutes, Sheffield couldn’t find the winner, sending the game to overtime.
The extra period saw both teams trade chances before Vainio stepped up at 64:51, finishing a two-on-one rush with a perfect top-corner snipe over Kupsky’s glove to seal the victory.
Both goaltenders were exceptional, with Greenfield posting a 96.55% save percentage and Kupsky stopping 94.87% of the shots he faced. Kevin Tansey earned Man of the Match honors for his tireless performance.
The Steelers now turn their attention to Sunday night’s Retro Weekend finale against the Cardiff Devils, looking to keep their momentum rolling.
First Period [0-0] – Steelers and Flames Battle to a Stalemate in High-Energy First Period
Retro Night at the Utilita Arena got off to a fast-paced start as the Sheffield Steelers and Guildford Flames went toe-to-toe in a goalless but entertaining opening period.
Despite missing Brien Diffley and Mark Simpson due to injury, the Steelers came out strong, controlling the first 10 minutes of play. Brandon Whistle had the first real chance of the night, attempting to jam the puck five-hole past Flames netminder Jake Kupsky from close range. Sheffield’s early pressure led to a powerplay opportunity at the six-minute mark when Lewis Hook was sent to the box for hooking. The Steelers’ man advantage unit fired multiple shots through Robert Dowd, Daniel Ciampini, and Patrick Watling, but Kupsky and the Guildford defence held firm.
The Flames found their rhythm in the second half of the period, testing Steelers netminder Matthew Greenfield with more frequency. Joona Huttula was called for cross-checking at 14:32, giving Guildford their first powerplay of the night. However, Sheffield’s penalty kill was up to the task, limiting the Flames’ chances and keeping Greenfield’s workload light.
Late in the frame, controversy struck when Mikko Juusola appeared to be tripped in the Flames’ zone, but the officials waved off any potential penalty, drawing frustration from the Steelers bench.
As the buzzer sounded to end the first, the teams remained deadlocked at 0-0, with the Steelers holding a slight edge in shots, 11 to 10. With both teams showing flashes of offensive firepower, the second period promised to bring even more intensity.
Second Period [0-1] – Flames Strike Late to Take Lead in Tight Second Period
The Steelers and Flames continued their defensive chess match in a tightly contested second period, but it was the visitors who broke the deadlock late to carry a 1-0 lead into the intermission.
Steelers netminder Matthew Greenfield was called into action immediately, flashing the glove on the first shift to deny an early Flames opportunity. However, much of the opening minutes saw both teams neutralising each other in the neutral zone, with neither side able to generate sustained offensive pressure.
As the period progressed, Guildford’s Jake Kupsky became the busier of the two goaltenders. The Flames netminder made key glove saves on Patrick Watling and Sacha Guimond from long range before coming up big at the midway mark. Marco Vallerand and Robert Dowd broke free on a two-on-one rush, with Vallerand opting to shoot across Kupsky’s body, only for the goaltender to snare the effort with another sharp glove stop.
Sheffield kept pressing, with Kevin Tansey dancing through the Flames’ defence before backhanding his shot over the net. Guildford responded moments later as Waller fired a tricky shot at Greenfield from an awkward height, forcing the Steelers netminder to react quickly.
The Steelers were handed a powerplay at 31:30 when Zack Hoffman was called for hooking after impeding Mikko Juusola at the Flames’ blue line. However, Guildford’s penalty kill was solid, limiting Sheffield to perimeter chancesikk and Kupsky reacting quickly to a bobbling puck close to his blue paint.
With five minutes remaining, the Flames turned up the pressure, hemming in the Steelers’ fourth line and forcing Greenfield to stand tall. Sheffield weathered the storm and countered with a look for Finlay Ulrick, but the angle worked against him as his shot was turned aside.
The deadlock was finally broken at 38:41 when the Steelers lost track of Daniel Catenacci in front of the net. Lewis Hook, tied up with Colton Saucerman behind the goal, managed to slip a pass to the near post, where Catenacci pounced and fired past Greenfield. Brett Welychka picked up the secondary assist as Guildford took a 1-0 advantage.
Tensions flared in the final moments as Joona Huttula and Daniel Tedesco exchanged shoves behind the Steelers’ net, setting the stage for an intense final period with Sheffield looking to mount a comeback.
Third Period & Overtime [2-1 [OT]] – Vainio’s Overtime Heroics Secure Steelers Victory in Retro Night Thriller
A dramatic third period and overtime showdown saw the Steelers battle back to claim a thrilling 2-1 victory over the Flames, with Veeti Vainio’s top-corner snipe sealing the extra point and keeping the Steelers’ title hopes alive.
Sheffield pushed for an equaliser early in the final frame, and Mikko Juusola nearly made it happen on the forecheck. His pressure created space for Sam Tremblay in the slot, but his shot sailed just over the crossbar. Five minutes into the period, Matthew Greenfield took a long-range shot off the helmet, forcing a stoppage for running repairs by kitman Andy Akers.
Juusola came close again midway through the period, skating hard to the back post for a potential tap-in from Brandon Whistle, but he got too much on the puck and sent it wide. The breakthrough finally came at 49:05 when Tremblay levelled the game, tipping home a shot-pass from Colton Saucerman in close. The goal was reviewed for high-sticking but confirmed by the officials, with Patrick Watling picking up the secondary assist.
Emotions boiled over moments later as Robert Dowd and Zach Hoffman dropped the gloves at 50:33. Hoffman initiated the scrap with a cross-check to Dowd’s back, but the Steelers captain got the better of the exchange before Hoffman took an extra swing after the officials intervened, earning an additional roughing penalty. Sheffield pressed on the powerplay, with Marco Vallerand testing Kupsky from his usual right-wing circle and Kevin Tansey setting up Mitchell Balmas at the back post, but the Flames netminder stood firm to keep the game tied.
Sheffield had the better of the final five minutes, pinning Guildford in their own zone, especially after a broken stick left the visitors scrambling. Despite the pressure, Kupsky refused to be beaten again, and the game headed to overtime.
The Steelers had the first real chance in the 3-on-3 extra session, but Juusola lost his stick on a breakaway, allowing the Flames to counter, only for the chance to be broken up by the back-checking Steelers. Vallerand and Dowd both tested Kupsky, while Balmas was denied after a post-whistle confrontation between Joona Huttula and Travis Brown.
Then, at 64:51, the home crowd erupted as Vainio jumped on a two-on-one rush, chose to take the shot himself, and rifled a perfect top-corner finish over Kupsky’s glove to clinch the victory.
While Vainio’s overtime winner stole the headlines, this game was a showcase of elite netminding at both ends of the ice. Matthew Greenfield was rock-solid for the Steelers, posting an outstanding 96.55% save percentage and coming up with key stops in crucial moments. At the other end, Jake Kupsky was equally impressive, turning away 94.87% of the shots he faced and making several highlight-reel saves to keep the Flames in the contest. Both goaltenders stood tall in a game where every shot mattered, making for an intense and thrilling battle between the pipes.
Kevin Tansey earned Man of the Match honours for his relentless work throughout the game, while the Steelers now turn their focus to Sunday’s Retro Weekend finale against the Cardiff Devils, who come into the contest fresh off a win over the Dundee Stars.
