Skellefteå – Liberec 5:2 (end) | Sparta – Genève 5:2 (end) | Třinec – Kuopio 6:0 (end)
Kärpät – Vienna 4:0 (end) | Mannheim – Vitkovice 2:1 (3:1 after SO) | Salzburg – HV71 1:3 (end)
Bern – Linköping 1:7 (end) | Davos – Pardubice 5:3 (end) | Sheffield – Frölunda 1:4 (end)
Braehead – Ingolstadt 6:4 (end)
final
Sheffield Steelers
1:4 (0:1, 1:0, 0:3)
Frölunda Gothenburg
Saturday 05.09.2015, 20:00 • Champions League • 6 • Group 14
     
    Thank you very much indeed for joining us tonight from the Sheffield Arena. Enjoy the rest of your Saturday evening. (22:26:59)
     
    As with the majority of their games in this year’s CHL, it was close but no cigar for the Steelers, who were level with their opponents through forty minutes, yet couldn’t stop Frolunda taking the three points in the third period. Despite having a solid chunk of time on a 5-on-3 power-play the Steelers couldn’t convert and Frolunda made them suffer. Artturi Lehkonen scored the game’s winning goal, getting the rewards from hard work by Ryan Lasch in the corner forcing the turnover. Lasch would turn from producer to scorer as he was the first to a looping puck five minutes later to make the score 3-1 in favour of the travelling Frolunda side. Despite their best efforts, the Steelers rarely looked like threatening Lars Johansson in the Frolunda net in the game’s dying seconds, and Elias Falth rubbed salt in the wound with a power-play goal, his second of the game, in the final two minutes. The Steelers’ CHL adventure ends with the British Champions failing to record any points but winning a lot of plaudits with their tough play. For Frolunda, it’s four wins from four games, as they qualify for the Round of 32 as Group N winners.

    Final shots on goal:
    Sheffield Steelers: 17 (7, 7, 3)
    Frolunda Gothenburg 31 (10, 11, 10).
     
    Game over.
     
    59:03
    Mike Duco (Steelers) gets a two minute roughing penalty for his troubles.
     
    59:03
    A point shot on the turn by Russ Moyer is saved by Johansson, but the rebound almost dribbles over the line. Pushing and shoving after the whistle with Mike Duco at the centre of proceedings.
     
    58:50
    The Steelers are back to full strength
     
    58:26
    Goal for Frölunda!
    Frolunda take advantage with the extra two men, and rub salt in the wound of the Steelers. The puck is worked to the point to ELIAS FALTH, who hammers a slapshot past a forlorn Plante. It's Falth's second of the night and Frolunda's fourth. Assisted by Artturi Lehkonen, his third point of the night.
     
    58:19
    In the interim, Zack Fitzgerald of the Sheffield Steelers was awarded a ten minute personal misconduct penalty.
     
    58:19
    It's another penalty against Mathieu Roy of the Sheffield Steelers, his fourth minor of the night. This time he's called for hooking.
     
    57:17
    Moyer's backhand effort takes a deflection and loops up in the air but Johansson sees it all the way and parries it to safety.
     
    56:43
    The bad blood between the two clubs continues. Penalties against Jace Coyle (Steelers) and Patrik Carlsson (Frolunda) are awarded two minute roughing penalties
     
    56:12
    More great skill by Artturi Lehkonen on the rush, who cuts to centre from the left wing and feeds Mattias Janmark who shoots right into Plante's bread basket.
     
    54:54
    Worrying scenes for Frolunda as in a battle for a loose puck with Steelers' Jonathan Phillips, Jacob Larsson looses his footing and goes crashing into the boards. He is able to leave the ice unassisted but looks in discomfort.
     
    54:41
    Penalty against the Sheffield Steelers. Two minute tripping minor called against Russ Moyer.
     
    54:38
    Partial breakaway for Ryan Lasch down the left wing, but Plante stops his wrist shot. Lasch is brought crashing down after the play and there's a penalty on the way.
     
    53:08
    The Steelers are back to full strength. Good save by Plante on Bohm towards the end of the power-play.
     
    51:05
    Penalty against the Sheffield Steelers. A two minute cross checking minor for Jace Coyle.
    Ryan LASCH - 1:3
     
    50:22
    Goal for Frölunda!
    The wind seems to have been taken out of the Steelers' sails and the points look to be secure for Frolunda. On a seemingly broken play the away side score their third of the night. The puck loops up in the air eluding all the Steelers' defence, and it's RYAN LASCH who is first to the loose puck in front of Plante and beats the netminder with a hard wrist-shot. Unassisted goal.
     
    49:23
    Frolunda carry the puck over the blueline but the linesman whistles the play up for offside.
     
    49:01
    Lehkonen brings the puck down the left wing with speed, but his shoot clears the plexi.
     
    47:47
    Johansson gloves a weak point shot as his team returns to full strength.
     
    47:27
    Fantastic pad save by Johansson on a Ben O'Connor point shot.
     
    46:54
    O'Connor's centring pass after the fake shot misses the target. Frolunda able to clear the puck. 30 seconds left with the two-man advantage.
     
    46:09
    Roy tries to beat Johansson from an impossibly tight angle. The Swedish goaltender gloves the puck.
     
    45:47
    Penalty against Frolunda. Lars Johansson is given a two minute penalty for holding the stick. 1:52 of 5-on-3 power-play for the Steelers.
     
    45:39
    Penalty against Frolunda. Oliver Bohm is awarded a two minute holding penalty.
    Artturi LEHKONEN - 1:2
     
    45:01
    Goal for Frölunda!
    The Steelers don't get so lucky this time around as they are made to pay for another defensive giveaway. Ryan Lasch pounces on the loose puck and finds ARTTURI LEHKONEN at the right wing circle. Plante gets a piece of his wrist-shot but can't do enough to keep it from crossing the line.
     
    44:48
    Frolunda bring the puck the other way with speed down the left wing. Janmark's pass from the left wing finds Carlsson but Plante does amazingly well to cover his back post and make the save.
     
    44:18
    O'Connor joins the play as a fourth forward for the Steelers, trying to tip Moyer's point shot from the slot. Good save by Johansson.
     
    43:47
    Point shot by Larsson which Plante kicks away.
     
    43:11
    It's a fantastic stretch pass by Sarich to find Jason Hewitt gaining the zone down the right wing. He fires a hard shot which Johansson deflects away with his blocker.
     
    42:39
    After a lengthy spell of zone time the Steelers clear the zone. Frolunda try to bring the puck back quickly but they go offside.
     
    40:57
    Tommernes fires a high slap-shot which Plante saves. The Steelers are now back to full strength.
     
    40:23
    30 seconds remaining of Frolunda's power-play.
     
    40:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    30 seconds to go to face-off in the third period. The players and officials are back on the ice.
     
    Well, well, well. A fantastic second period of play and the Steelers are really giving Frolunda a tough game here tonight. The Swedish side were in the ascendancy for large portions of the second period, but Levi Nelson's power-play goal has levelled the game up at one apiece going into the third period. Don't go away folks, as there will be fireworks in the game's final frame.

    Shots on goal through two periods: Steelers 14 (7, 7) Frolunda 21 (10, 11).

    The third period will commence at approximately 20:48 GMT (21:48 CET).
     
    40:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    39:55
    Low wrist-shot by Tommernes but Plante makes a great save with his left pad.
     
    39:08
    Frolunda win the face-off again, and Falth gets another shot away which sails wide. The Steelers are able to clear.
     
    39:03
    Falth is patient at the point, waiting before firing an accurate wrist-shot on net, which Plante is equal to.
     
    38:53
    The momentum quickly disappears for the Steelers, as they take a too many men penalty, which will be served by Levi Nelson.
     
    37:06
    The momentum is with the home side now. Frolunda are forced to ice the puck.
    Levi NELSON - 1:1
     
    35:50
    Goal for Sheffield!
    After spending a large part of the period on the penalty kill, the home team are level! It's a true workmanlike goal from the Yorkshire club, as Jace Coyle works the puck down low to Jeff Legue, who waits and dishes to the slot, where it finds LEVI NELSON crashing the net, and the Steelers' forward hammers it home past Johansson.
     
    35:24
    Penalty against Frolunda, Mats Rosseli-Olsen gets a two minute high-sticking penalty.
     
    34:46
    Great chance for the Steelers with Roy out of the box. He goes on 2 on 1 with Colton Fretter but the Steelers' forward shoots wide.
     
    33:44
    Fantastic save by Plante to deny Johan Sundstrom from the left wing circle.
     
    32:36
    Mathieu Roy (Steelers) is given a two minute interference penalty. 5 on 4 power-play coming for Frolunda.
     
    31:53
    For Frolunda, Alexander Younan and John Dahlstrom are also awarded two minute penalties for roughing.
     
    31:53
    The penalties from the play are as follows:
    Robert Dowd and Levi Nelson (Steelers) are given two minute roughing penalties
     
    31:53
    Frolunda bring the puck the other away and go crashing, yet again into Plante. More pleasantries after the whistle exchanged by both teams.
     
    31:40
    Good passing play by the Dowd line for the Steelers but they can't muster a shot on goal.
     
    30:37
    Poor giveaway by the Steelers defence. John Dahlstrom benefits from this gift and fires a wrist-shot destined for the top right corner, but Plante denies the Frolunda forward with his glove.
     
    30:16
    Weak angle shot by Axelsson is saved by Plante as the Steelers return to full strength. Poor power-play by Frolunda.
     
    28:50
    The Steelers have one man return to the ice.
     
    28:30
    Frolunda have 31 seconds of 5 on 3 power-play.
     
    28:17
    Zack Fitzgerald (Steelers) gets called for a two minute interference minor.
     
    28:17
    Frolunda are all over the Steelers, getting a number of odd man breaks but failing to find the back of the net. Eventually Fitzgerald comes clattering into the crease, sending one of the Frolunda players to the ice and will get the call.
     
    27:37
    Great block in front by Fitzgerald to prevent Janmark from finding the back of the net.
     
    27:09
    Plante gloves the Frolunda dump in. Faceoff to the left of the Steelers' goaltender.
     
    26:48
    Penalty against the Sheffield Steelers. Luke Ferrara is whistled for a two minute charging penalty.
     
    26:23
    Lots of scrappy play in the neutral zone so far. Nothing doing for either side.
     
    25:36
    Cullen Eddy gets a shot away for the Steelers but Johansson is once again equal to the puck.
     
    24:34
    Frolunda are back to full strength.
     
    23:17
    All the play is going through O'Connor at the point. He fires one on net with Roy screening, but Johansson gloves the puck.
     
    22:40
    Moyer sets up Ben O'Connor for the one timer from the right point, but Johansson makes the save.
     
    22:32
    Penalty coming up against Frolunda as Kevin Elgestal is given a goaltender interference penalty.
     
    22:16
    Larsson floats a wrist shot from the point which Plante does well to save.
     
    21:44
    Both teams return to full strength. All one way traffic towards Plante's goal at the start of the second period.
     
    21:03
    Lasch brings the puck into the Sheffield zone down the left wing but shoots wide.
     
    20:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    The players and officials are out for the start of the second period.
     
    The first period ends with a player from either side in the penalty box on concurrent roughing minors. It's been a closely fought first period at the Sheffield Arena, as neither side has given an inch. The Steelers are still in the game despite being a goal down, as Elias Falth's power-play goal the difference between the two sides.

    Shots on goal in the first period: Steelers 7 Frolunda 10

    The second period will commence at approximately 19:52 GMT (20:52 CET).
     
    20:00
    1st period finished.
     
    19:44
    It'll be four-on-four hockey as Christoffer Persson (Frolunda) and Cullen Eddy (Steelers) are given two minute roughing penalties. Eddy's penalty will be served by Luke Ferrara
     
    19:44
    A great passing play by the Steelers down the left wing, as the puck finds Mathieu Roy in the high slot, but the Steelers can't get all of it, and Johansson makes the save. A large amount of pushing and shoving after the whistle as the Steelers crash the net. Penalties coming.
     
    19:20
    A poor giveaway by the Steelers forwards, who give Artturi Lehkonen a golden chance in the dying seconds, but the forward shoots wide.
     
    19:14
    The Steelers take the puck offside.
     
    18:43
    Frolunda ice the puck.
     
    18:31
    The Steelers are back to full strength.
     
    18:13
    Another good chance for Frolunda, as a quick wrist shot from the high slot is gloved by Plante. Shots on goal are Steelers 5, Frolunda 10.
     
    17:58
    Frolunda still have a powerplay, with 25 seconds still Roy's second penalty.
     
    16:35
    Goal for Frölunda!
    The Frolunda power-play unit scored four times against JYP on Thursday and they have their first on the board today. The play once again goes through Artturi Lehkonen, who fires a pass from the right wing to the left point, where it is hammered by ELIAS FALTH, who falls to the ice in his follow-through, but the slapshot beats Plante stick side, lighting the lamp.
     
    16:18
    Bengtsson dishes the puck to Lehkonen on the right wing, but Plante makes a great save on the one timer.
     
    15:46
    Steelers have cleared everything Frolunda have thrown at them so far.
     
    15:12
    First penalty of the night against the Sheffield Steelers. Mathieu Roy gets whistled for a high-sticking penalty after catching and cutting Robin Figren. He'll sit for four minutes on a 2+2 double minor.
     
    14:24
    Johansson does extremely well to change direction, stopping the deflected Ben O'Connor slapshot.
     
    13:47
    Frolunda take the puck offside.
     
    12:44
    Frolunda back to full strength.
     
    12:21
    First good bit of zone time for the Steelers with the man advantage. Jace Coyle hammers one from the left point but Johansson saves.
     
    11:36
    Nothing doing on the powerplay so far. Frolunda have cleared the zone three times and the Steleers have mustered no shots on goal.
     
    11:13
    A huge hip check by Lukas Bengtsson as the Steelers gain the zone. Sends his man flying.
     
    10:44
    First penalty of the game goes against Frolunda, as Andreas Johnson is given a two minute cross-checking minor.
     
    10:02
    Partial breakaway for Jeff Legue, however the Frolunda defencemen conspire to catch up with the Steelers forward. He drops the puck to his trailer, Levi Nelson, whose wristshot is saved by Johansson.
     
    09:23
    The puck flies out of play in the neutral zone.
     
    09:06
    The Steelers can't find a way to bring the puck out the zone as the Frolunda forecheckers are swarming them. They force the turnover, and Janmark gets the quick shot away which Plante gloves.
     
    08:17
    Hard wrist shot on net by Anton Karlsson, but Plante saves with the blocker.
     
    07:03
    Good break-out play by the Steelers, who work the puck to the right wing, where its brought out by Robert Dowd. The British forward fires from the top of the faceoff circle, but Johansson sees it all the way and makes the save.
     
    05:55
    A terrible breakdown by the Frolunda defence gives Mathieu Roy a breakaway through the centre of the ice. He shoots looking to beat Johansson top corner, but the Swedish goaltender makes the great reaction save.
     
    05:31
    The Steelers take the puck offside down the right hand side of the ice.
     
    04:44
    The Steelers have their first shot of the game, as Phillips brings the puck in down the left wing, and hammers a slapshot which Johansson saves with his mask.
     
    04:17
    Johnson brings the puck into the zone with speed for Frolunda, but his quick shot is parried away by Plante.
     
    03:52
    Another fantastic save by Plante, sprawling to make the save with his pad.
     
    02:39
    First good chance of the game, and its a fantastic piece of play by Frolunda's third line. John Dahlstrom weaves around the defence, bringing the puck behind the net to in front of Plante, but the Canadian netminder does very well to save.
     
    02:18
    More physical stuff from the home team, as Duco drills Tommernes into the plexi.
     
    01:35
    Jeff Legue puts in a big check on Oliver Bohm behind the Frolunda defenceman's own goal. Play continues.
     
    00:55
    First shot of the game by Frolunda is a point shot by Elias Falth which Plante saves. The Steelers regain the puck but ice it.
     
    00:31
    Frolunda gain the zone early. The line centred by Carlsson doing well to keep puck possession.
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    Seconds away from face-off in Sheffield.
     
    As do the Steelers. Another good crowd at the Sheffield Arena tonight.
     
    Frolunda take to the ice.
     
    Ten minutes to go until puck drop at the Sheffield Arena. The zamboni is finishing its final lap of the ice, and the lights are about to go down.
     
    The big team news for today's Group N finale is that Frolunda are without Spencer Abbott, Robin Figren, Joel Lundqvist and Oscar Fantenberg, who miss out after playing in Thursday's 4-1 victory over JYP. In their place, Frolunda have elected for a more youthful line-up, featuring defenceman Alexander Younan, and forwards Kevin Elgestal, John Dahlstrom, whilst Niklas Lasu returns to the lineup and centres the top line.

    Starting goaltenders: Tyler Plante (Steelers), Lars Johansson (Frolunda).
    Cramo Top Scorers: Colton Fretter (Steelers), Henrik Tommernes (Frolunda)
     
    Starting lineups:

    Sheffield Steelers: Plante (Day) – Coyle, O'Connor, Sarich, Moyer, Eddy, Fitzgerald (A) – Vestberg, Roy (A), Fretter – Duco, Phillips (C), Mosienko – Legue, Dowd, Nelson – Hewitt, Hill, Ferrara, Charnock. Head Coach: Paul Thompson

    Frölunda Gothenburg: Johansson (Gustafsson) – Tommernes (A), Bengtsson, Larsson, Falth, Bohm, Persson, Younan – Stalberg, Lasu (C), Rosseli-Olsen – Janmark, Carlsson, Lasch – Dahlstrom, Karlsson, Lehkonen – Elgestal, Sundstrom (A), Johnson

    Referees: Suorsa (FIN), Smith – Beresford, Staniforth (All GBR).
     
    Line-ups and more build up to follow in due course.
     
    Despite qualification being an impossibility for the Steelers, Head Coach Paul Thompson pledged that his team would give 100% in their final CHL game of this season. The British side ran JYP close in Game Day 4, taking the lead and outshooting their Finnish opponents before eventually succumbing to Joose Antonen's game winning power-play goal in the third period.
     
    Frolunda look to close out their group stage with their fourth win in four games, as on Thursday evening, the Swedish side looked in fine form defeating JYP Jyvaskyla 4-1, with all four goals coming on the power-play. Spencer Abbott scored twice, whilst Henrik Tommernes had three assists.
     
    A very good evening from the Sheffield Arena on a lovely Saturday here in Great Britain. On top in 90 minutes is the final game in Group N, between the Sheffield Steelers and Frolunda Gothenburg. There is nothing to play for apart from pride in today's game, as Frolunda have already qualified as group winners, whilst the Steelers, yet to record their first point in CHL action, are unable to qualify for the Playoffs.
     
    Welcome. Game starts at 20:00.
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    Commentary by

    Jon Rowson

    CZ@jonrowson

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 36. Nelson (Legue, Coyle) – 17. Falth (Lehkonen), 46. Lehkonen (Lasch), 51. Lasch, 59. Falth (Lehkonen)

    Sheffield Steelers: Plante (Day) – Coyle, O'Connor, Sarich, Moyer, Eddy, Fitzgerald (A) – Vestberg, Roy (A), Fretter – Duco, Phillips (C), Mosienko – Legue, Dowd, Nelson – Hewitt, Hill, Ferrara, Charnock. Head Coach: Paul Thompson
    Frölunda Gothenburg: Johansson (Gustafsson) – Tommernes (A), Bengtsson, Larsson, Falth, Bohm, Persson, Younan – Stalberg, Lasu (C), Rosseli-Olsen – Janmark, Carlsson, Lasch – Dahlstrom, Karlsson, Lehkonen – Elgestal, Sundstrom (A), Johnson. Head Coach: Roger Ronnberg
    Referees: Suorsa (FIN), Smith – Beresford, Staniforth (All GBR)