Ice Hockey: Steelers fend off fightback by wayward Panthers

Sheffield Steelers survived a spirited Nottingham Panthers fightback to win the Challenge Cup final 3-2 at the MEN Arena yesterday.

Steelers seemed to be heading for a flattering win when Mark Dutiaume put them 3-0 ahead with 12 minutes left. But an uncharacteristic mistake by the Steelers' netminder Joel Laing – the man of the match– gave Panthers hope with six minutes left.

Laing, who had repeatedly foiled Panthers, allowed a Briane Thompson shot to go past him while Steelers were on a powerplay. Two minutes later Greg Hadden, who retires at the end of the season, set up a tense finish with a second.

The Steelers' coach Mike Blaisdell immediately called a time-out but, despite Panthers pulling their netminder Petter Sandstrom, Blaisdell's side held on to regain the trophy they won for three successive seasons between 1999-2001.

It also preserved Steelers' unbeaten record against their rivals – they have won all six meetings in finals.

Blaisdell felt Panthers were made to pay for poor discipline, and said: "We tried to play tight, defensive hockey and wait for them to make mistakes and stay away from trouble. I told my guys: 'Don't hit someone from behind, don't glove someone in the face, just take it'. I thought we got a couple of powerplay goals that way and that cost them. They got their gloves out and paid the price."