Photo (C) Jo Loat
Final Score : Steeldogs 1 Bison 2
By Nigel Simmonds
Saturday 9th April 2022
Refs : Mr Sewell & Mr Williams
Lino’s : Mr Neenan & Mr Smith
Welcome to the NIHL Play-Offs !!
Over the next 3 weekends, your GalxC Cooling Services sponsored Basingstoke Bison are in Group B, with Swindon Wildcats, Sheffield Steeldogs & Peterborough Phantoms. Usually, you can throw a teams league form out of the window, as Play-Offs are a different monster.
In our 1st play-off game, the Bison had to make the long trip up t’North, to face the Steeldogs, in Sheffield.
The Bison, still missing Adam Jones & Adam Harding, but Player/Coach Ashley Tait, made a very welcome return to the line-up, as he adds a wealth of experience, in this format.
Dmitri Zimozdra & Alex Mettam both getting the nod, as their teams starting Netminder.
From the off, it would be Sheffield that would try and to exert their prominence on the game, as they created a couple of chances, but Alex Mettam wasn’t really troubled.
Bison would get the best first scoring chance, when Aidan Doughty managed to wriggle through the Steeldogs defence, but his shot was easily saved by Zimozdra.
The Bison would pick up the first penalty, when Alex Roberts was called for Holding (9.49). Steeldogs would almost score instantly, when Lee Bonner fired just wide. A few seconds later, Mettam stopped a good point shot, by Jason Hewitt.
Bison would see off the penalty and return to full strength. A few minutes later and Bison would get given another penalty. Elliott Dewey getting called for Boarding (14.01).
Again, the Steeldogs PP unit would come out and try and find a way past Mettam. Andreas Valdix almost did, when he skated through, in on goal, but his shot went wide. Then Lee Bonner had another good chance, by Mettam pulled off a great save, to deny him. Again, the Bison Penalty Killers saw off the penalty successfully. Mettam was definately the busier goalie.
A pretty uneventful goalless period drew to a close and the shot count was, 4 on Steeldogs & 16 on Bison.
The 2nd Period started and it was still pretty cagey between the two teams. Steeldogs would pick up their first penalty, when Hallam Wilson was sent flying, in a collision with Ben Morgan. It was a scary moment, as Wilson lay prone on the ice, but after a few seconds, he thankfully got up and skated back to the bench unaided. Morgan was assessed a Kneeing penalty (23.01).
Bison would create a couple of good chances. Jay King had a good shot saved & then Aidan Doughty was denied by Zimozdra. Just as the penalty ended, a bad line change by the Bison, saw them pick up a Bench minor penalty, for Too Many Men (25.03).
As the puck dropped, the Steeldogs immediately returned to full strength and onto the powerplay. After a couple of good saves, Mettam was finally beaten, when Alex Graham’s shot took a deflection off a Bison D-man and Mettam was wrong footed, as the puck crept over the line. Goal timed at 26.33, with Lee Hayward & Matt Bissonnette assisting.
A couple of minutes later and Steeldogs picked up another penalty. Lewis Bell picking up a Tripping call (28.26). The Bison powerplay was all over the Steeldogs, but unfortunately, they couldn’t find a way past Zimozdra and they returned to full strength.
A few minutes later and the Bison would pick up another penalty. Hallam Wilson with a Hooking call (32.15). Steeldogs would lay siege on the Bison net again. Sam Towner bringing out the best in Alex Mettam, with a great save again.
Bison killed off the penalty successfully and set about trying to find an equaliser. Paul Petts was set up nicely by Liam Morris, but his shot went just wide. Alex Sampford went closer, but his shot rang off the post and the puck went safe.
Alex Roberts pulled off his trademark toe drag move and fired his shot, but it was right at Zimozdra and saved easily.
This brought an end to the action in the period and Steeldogs went in, with a 1-0 lead. SoG were alot closer, with Mettam facing 14 shots & Zimozdra faced 16 shots.
Into the 3rd period and it was a typical play-off game, with both teams creating chances, but the goalies were seeing alot of the puck.
Bison came out and it looked like they were really going to go for it.
Mettam faced a lot of early shots, but was equal to all of them.
Bison then, started creating good opportunities. They finally got their reward, when Zack Milton slipped a pass through for Alex Roberts to skate on to and he finished nicely on the backhand (45.21), which was celebrated, by the travelling Bison fans.
Back came Sheffield, but every goal scoring chance, was thwarted by an inspired Alex Mettam, who was putting in a superb performance.
Into the final 10 minutes now and the Bison would get handed another powerplay chance, when Steeldogs Matt Bissonnette, was called for Slashing (54.14). Out came the Bison PP unit again and with some good puck movement, they created the chance that would give them the victory.
Ashley Tait & Zack Milton creating a perfect chance for Alex Roberts and he let rip with an unstoppable shot, that bulged the net behind the Steeldogs nettie. Goal timed at 54.39.
Steeldogs were a little stunned, if I’m being honest. They’d been on top for a lot of the game and now found themselves behind.
Time was running down now and with just over 2 minutes to go and a face off on the Bison zone, Steeldogs decided to use their Time Out and pull Zimozdra, for the extra attacker. Within a few seconds, Bison’s Jay King would pick up a silly Roughing call (58.07) and put Bison right up against it. Steeldogs were now playing 6-on-4 and going all out attack… Every time they created a shooting chance, it was denied by Mettam. He really was So up for it.. the shots kept raining in, but Mettsy would block the shot and if it came loose, he’d quickly cover it, to deny any rebounds.
The final few seconds ran down and at the buzzer, Mettam celebrated by giving the travelling Bison fans (which included family members) lots of fist pumps, as he had pulled off an awesome display, between the pipes, in which he would pick up the Man of the Match award, by facing 50 shots. Ben Morgan would pick up the Steeldogs award.
Bison had surely gone into the game as underdogs, but managed to come away, with a great victory.
Match Stats:
Steeldogs : Graham 1+0, Bissonnette 0+1, Hayward 0+1.
Nets : Zimozdra 27/2 (92.59%)
Bison : Roberts 2+0, Milton 0+2, Tait 0+1.
Nets : Mettam 50/1 (98.00%)
Shots on Goal : Steeldogs 50 Bison 27
Penalties (PiMs) : Steeldogs 6 Bison 10
How to Book Tickets for the Playoff Games:
General Sales:
You can purchase tickets either in person, by telephone 01256 355266 or you can book in advance online here.
Season Ticket Holders:
The 3 home Play Off games are not covered by your Season Ticket package but your seats have been reserved for all 3 games and these can be purchased in person at the box office or by telephone from 9am,in the morning (Sunday), unfortunately we cannot offer an online purchase at this time.
All Season Ticket seats will be reserved until midnight of the day before the game and then the seat will be released back to general sale. (e.g. game on the 10th April your ticket is reserved until 23:59 on Saturday 9th April).
