ELITE SERIES PLAYOFFS: Manchester Storm take on the Sheffield Steelers at Motorpoint Arena Nottingham in the Semi Finals! Buy the webcast HERE! Face-off is 20:30 Tuesday 27th April.

First period 

It was a game for numbers on Sunday night. A regular win for Storm would see them finishing 3rd in the Elite Series table, but any other result would see them finish 4th place. 

Starting for Storm was Bonar against Churchfield for Steelers. Both teams scratching regular players, resting them ahead of next week’s playoffs.  

Schulze shot glove side past Bonar, giving Steelers the first point on the board at 0:33, assisted by Mikyska. 

Storm levelled moments later when Fawcett drove to the net, scoring through the middle on a pass from Peacock at 03:15.

Fawcett was given a hooking penalty at 09:12, Steelers just 11 seconds later handed to Jones for roughing.

Kirk scored Steelers’ second, putting the puck in through Bonar’s fivehole, assisted by D Phillips at 09:36. (4on4)

J.Phillips was handed an elbowing penalty at 11:47 and Long tied the game on the powerplay for Storm, sending a wrist shot through traffic from the hashmarks at 12:46, assisted by Critchlow and Simmonds.

Second period 

The deadlock was lifted at 26:37, when Captain, J.Phillips scored Steelers’ 3rd goal via a one timer through the middle, passed from Olden. 

Storm appeared the stronger team from there, applying more pressure and hoping to equalise. Fortier was gifted double chances, shut out by Churchfield. Critchlow was handed a breakaway, but was unable to equalise in the offensive zone.

Solder was called for slashing at 36:05 and Steelers capitalised on the powerplay, scored by Jones, assisted by Mikyska at 36:42.

Manchester held strong on a 5on3 penalty kill when Simmonds was called for hooking at 37:53 and Batch for delay of game at 37:57.

Third period 

Captain, Ehrhardt closed the gap with a wrist shot through traffic, scoring under the blocker of Churchfield at 48:45, assisted by Fawcett 

Long shot through traffic, with Critchlow picking up the rebound but Churchfield stood tall. 

Bonar was pulled for an extra skater in the final few minutes of play, but it was Steelers captain, J.Phillips who sent the puck into an empty net at 57:35.

Despite some attempts to score when Jones was handed a penalty for roughing with 50 seconds left on the clock, Storm fell short by two goals.

ELITE SERIES PLAYOFFS: Manchester Storm take on the Sheffield Steelers at Motorpoint Arena Nottingham in the Semi Finals! Buy the webcast HERE! Face-off is 20:30 Tuesday 27th April.