How dare they give us hope

Well that was silly wasn't it. 

Hey everyone and welcome back to the House of Dows. Just got back from Steelers v Panthers Part 1 and boy was that game stupid. Let me just be clear, that was probably one of the worst Steeler home performances I've ever seen. Three to nothing after the first period, Sheffield, after an encouraging first eight minutes, were being dominated by a Nottingham team which seemed comfortable with puck and dangerous on the attack. They was treated to a host of boos (a first for me in Sheffield), and the public witnessed a second period full of poor passing and woeful execution in front of goal. Nottingham seemed happy with their lot and rarely threatened the Steelers goal. It seemed as though the Steelers has just simply run out of ideas. The fourth Nottingham goal seemed to be the nail in the coffin, I honestly thought we had seen the end of Dave Matsos, a 4-0 defeat just wouldn't have been tolerated. 

Please now welcome Joey Talbot onto the stage. 

It was another desperate Steeler dump and run effort. Seeking a goal that just didn't want to appear. A scramble, a loose puck and Joey Talbot spins it into the bottom of the goal. St. Pierre had been rock solid all night, pulling off some wonderful saves, but this one slipped through. A goal, and what an important one. It had probably saved Matsos' job and the one which didn't make the night a complete wash-out. So that would be it. We would see off the last three minutes and try and avoid a drubbing a week later. 

Skate forward Jonathan Zion. 

The crowd was pumped and a mazy breakaway opportunity has to be stopped. Zion is through, tripped and given a penalty shot. Mike Sgroi was very keen to take it (who was the best Steeler player by a country mile tonight) but Zion was the man who had to step up. My word did he step up. A cracking penalty and suddenly we have 4-2. The Steelers could have made it 3 after a brief flurry of activity and a powerplay opportunity. Full-time and the fans just didn't know how to react. We were pumped and excited. But we were also awful, lacking ideas and creativity. It then dawned on me what just happened. I found myself yelling: 

How dare you give us hope! 

In the '08 season in the same competition we had played the Panthers in the final. Mrs. Jody Lehman decided to have little Leia Lehman which meant that Davy Lawrence had to step up face the Panthers. He just wasn't quick enough and the Steelers couldn’t keep it close enough that by the end they were chasing a three goal deficit. A similar fate faces them this Wednesday. I went to both legs last year. That hope kept me going. We took the lead and came oh so close to getting the 3 goal lead we needed to overturn the Panthers. They gave us just enough hope to believe, but not enough to create a result. 

My ticket for next Wednesday has already been bought and now, thanks to a crazy 3 minutes, I now have hope. It's not going to happen, the Panthers are just too strong, too quick and simply better at home. But tonight has given me just enough false hope to believe that we can do it. 

Arse. 

Oh as a final thought. The Steelers tested out some new entrance music to replace the usual Sandstorm. It sucked to high heaven. Jonathan Fearnley (a contributor to this site) informs me its used by the Edmonton Oilers, it works there and it stinks here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEkQcu-g6II. Try again Sheffield!

MORE BLOG POSTS

Adam Walker

• It's nearly over in the EPL
• A turn in fortune for the Phoenix
• Phoenix are low on confidence
• EPL Cup semi loss hurt us
• EPL still up for grabs

Christopher Beal

• Minor or Major surgery for the Blaze?
• End of the Calder era!

Elliott Stanley

• Can Beauregard lead the line?
• Panthers blueline complete
• The ever expanding EIHL
• Panthers between the pipes
• Which Panthers have had the fire power?

James Broughton

• Dark day for Steelers?
• Never mind the World Cup
• What a great weekend
• It's all over with, what next?

James Gordon

• Debut blog - an introduction

Jerramie Domish

• Surprised at the standard!

Mark Briggs

• The Buffalo Sabres

Mark Duell

• Uncertainty remains
• More plans in motion
• Plans already in motion
• Mark's end of season review
• So near so far for Scims

Newcastle Vipers

• No blog posts in this category

Promotion

• Not just a hockey player

Seanna Murdock

• Itching for September
• Hello Doug, thank you Steve
• The Szwez show
• Support the Sheriff!
• Awada back to Giant form

Sheffield Steelers

• Steelers for sale
• My end of season review
• House of Dows End of the Year Awards
• A real game of hockey in Sheffield
• That's more like it Steelers

Swindon Wildcats

• Tough times in Swindon

LATEST NEWS

Elite Ice Hockey League

• Statement from Bob Phillips
• Mark Nebus joins Dan Ceman's roster
• Steelers confirm Simon appointment
• Steelers no longer for sale
• Capitals make sensational move?

English Premier League

• Bison complete roster
• Compton back at Swindon
• Tigers sign former NHLer
• Flames retain Potts for year seven
• Melicherik returns to Flames

National & Celtic League

• Islanders announce netminding duo
• Islanders secure four signings
• Dennis steps up to Dynamos defence
• Dynamos capture Canadian Calitri
• Northern Stars sign Elite League netminder
• Foster & Bennett head new look Northern Stars
• New look Northern League
• Duo join Oxford from Wildcats

STATS

• EIHL
• EPL
• More

POLL