Coventry Blaze 0 Sheffield Steelers 2

06/04/2008

The Cassidy Coventry Blaze missed out on a treble after being shutout 2-0 by the Sheffield Steelers in the Playoff Final.

Period 1

The opening minutes of the game were cagey, with Coventry failing to produce anything on an early powerplay. The first Steelers powerplay saw Trevor Koenig kicking aside Jeff Legue one-timer from the blue-line, while Dan Tessier shot wide of the far post after picking a pass slid across the zone by Rod Sarich. The second Steelers powerplay in a penalty-littering opening period featured two more big kick-saves from Koenig, from Sarich and Joe Talbot. The first great chance for the Blaze came after 12 minutes, when Adam Calder found Jonathan Weaver on the rush, with Weaver’s high shot being kept out by an unorthodox save by Jody Lehman.

Two more big stops from Koenig from Steve Munn and Dan Tessier kept a dominant Steelers at bay, with Lehman being forced to block big as Sylvain Cloutier redirected a pass on a rare Blaze attack. Sheffield’s pressure paid off with the opening goal, as captain Jonathan Phillips battled his way to the net from the left-wing and forced the puck past Koenig inside his near post. More penalties to Coventry gave Sheffield more time with extra men, and Jeff Legue’s one-timer landed only just wide after redirecting off Koenig and then Joe Talbot. Koenig was huge in the final minutes of the period, keeping Sheffield out as Blaze constantly penalty-killed.

End of Period 1: Blaze 0 Steelers 1

Period 2

Coventry had their chance on several powerplays early into the middle period, but couldn’t muster a goal. Jody Lehman made a blocker save from Jonathan Weaver’s blue-line blast, before making a huge block under pressure from Neal Martin’s one-timer when Blaze were 5-on-3. Dan Carlson snapped another good chance wide after being found in the slot. Sheffield looked to extend their lead back at even-strength, and after Ryan Finnerty shot just wide of the far post on a rush down the left-wing, Trevor Koenig was forced into a strong kick-save from Steve Munn’s shot right off a face-off. 

Coventry were testing Lehman when they could, and the ex-Blaze stopper was repelling everything, including two shots in quick succession from Adam Calder and Neal Martin, and then a low drive from Jonathan Weaver. Blaze’s task got harder when they conceded a powerplay goal, as Rod Sarich’s shot flew over the top of the net, bounced out to the right side of the net off the backboards, where Dan Tessier reacted first to bank the puck in off Koenig’s pad from a tight angle. The game opened up for the final five minutes of the period, with both goalies being forced into some fine stops. Curtis Huppe came inches from pulling a vital goal back for Coventry with 15 seconds remaining, but his shot through a crowd only rang the post.

End of Period 2: Blaze 0 Steelers 2

Period 3

Coventry came out forcibly in the third with nothing to lose, and Adam Calder had already clipped the outside of the post and forced Lehman into a leg save within 40 seconds. Danny Stewart saw his wrist-shot well held, and Lehman was in the right place to rob Sylvain Cloutier’s shot on the spin in the slot, while another few efforts sailed not far off the target. Lehman was having to show up big, and kept his pads solid to the post to prevent Cloutier and Russ Cowley from ramming the puck over the line.   

Sheffield nearly clinched the game for good when Joe Talbot was given a chance but crashed his shot against the post and out, while Trevor Koenig made an impressive glove-save to rob Jeff Legue. Coventry’s best chance of a goal came with three minutes remaining, as Lehman kicked a Russ Cowley blast right into the path of the unmarked Danny Stewart, but such was Blaze’s luck, Lehman got across his crease to make a brilliant stop to rob Stewart of what looked a certain goal. Coventry pulled Koenig for the final 90 seconds, but this comeback challenge proved to be one too many, and the team had to settle for just a pair of trophies for the season.

Match Stats

Referee: Hanson
Lines: Coenen and Staniforth

Period Scores: 0-1/0-1/0-0 = 0-2
Shots On Goal: 5-18/15-12/12-8 = 32-38
Penalty Minutes: 18-10/6-10/4-4 = 28-24

Coventry: Net: Trevor Koenig 38/2 (94.7%)

Sheffield: Jonathan Phillips 1+0, Dan Tessier 1+0, Ryan Finnerty 0+1, Rod Sarich 0+1
Net: Jody Lehman 32/0 (100%)

Man of the Match:
Coventry: #6 Neal Martin
Sheffield: #34 Jody Lehman

01.32 SHE PEN #10 Ryan Finnerty 2 mins for Cross Checking
05.09 COV PEN #77 Mathias Soderstrom 2 mins for Hooking
06.17 COV PEN #39 Danny Stewart 2 mins for Slashing

06.17 SHE PEN #28 Doug Sheppard 2 mins for Roughing
09.07 COV PEN #14 Jonathan Weaver 2 mins for Hooking
13.21 COV PEN #6 Neal Martin 2 mins for Roughing
13.21 SHE PEN #26 Dan Tessier 2 mins for Roughing
13.40 SHE GOAL 0-1 #20 Jonathan Phillips (#10 Ryan Finnerty)
13.44 COV PEN #25 Adam Calder 2 mins for Roughing
13.44 COV PEN #59 KC Timmons 2 mins for Roughing
13.44 SHE PEN #25 Steve Munn 2 mins for Roughing
16.13 SHE PEN #21 Ashley Tait 2 mins for Cross Checking
16.56 COV PEN #26 Dan Carlson 2 mins for Roughing
17.34 COV PEN #39 Danny Stewart 2 mins for Hooking
18.08 COV PEN #6 Neal Martin 2 mins for Illegal Equipment

20.58 SHE PEN #26 Dan Tessier 2 mins for Hooking
22.29 SHE PEN #10 Ryan Finnerty 2 mins for Hooking
24.36 SHE PEN #25 Steve Munn 2 mins for High Sticks
31.56 COV PEN #83 Sylvain Cloutier 2 mins for Roughing
31.56 SHE PEN #36 Joe Talbot 2 mins for Roughing
33.59 COV PEN #26 Dan Carlson 2 mins for Tripping
35.03 SHE GOAL 0-2 #26 Dan Tessier (#19 Rod Sarich) (PPG)
40.00 COV PEN #39 Danny Stewart 2 mins for Cross Checking
40.00 SHE PEN #36 Joe Talbot 2 mins for Roughing

44.57 COV PEN #83 Sylvain Cloutier 2 mins for Roughing
44.57 SHE PEN #44 Mark Thomas 2 mins for Cross Checking
58.49 COV PEN #25 Adam Calder 2 mins for High Sticks
58.49 SHE PEN #11 Jeff Legue 2 mins for Tripping