Ice Hockey: Nwcastle Vipers 2 Sheffield Steelers 4

Feb 28 2010 Sunday Sun

FOR the second night in a row Vipers lost to the Steelers and now find themselves four points behind the Sheffield club in the league table.

The game had been billed as the “Bash at Bay” but the outcome seemed more likely to become a crash by the end of the first period.

The home side left the ice for the interval trailing 2-0, the first goal crossing the Vipers’ line in just under two minutes of play.

Net minder Michel Robinson was screened by a defenceman as Matt Hubbauer’s rising shot flew into the net over his right-hand shoulder close to the near post.

Just over a minute later, Mike Berry sent a back-handed attempt over the Steelers’ bar and moments later Brent Hughes shot straight at netminder Andrew Verner.

The home side then wasted two consecutive power plays before going further behind on 12 minutes.

Doug Sheppard, who should have scored on an earlier two-on-one breakaway, picked out Jeff Legue whose first time shot flew in through traffic.

As they had previously, the Vipers created more chances. The lively Hughes burst along the left flank and sent the puck into the crease where Verner saved at point-blank range from Matic Kralj.

The game was in the doldrums during the opening eight minutes of the second period with little to note.

Returning after a long injury lay-off, the Vipers’ captain David Longstaff produced a lovely cross-ice pass and that was about it until the Vipers suddenly upped the tempo and scored.