Todd Dutiaume was once again left to rue missed chances as Fife Flyers skidded to defeat at high-flying Sheffield Steelers. Fife lost the first session 2-0 but blanked the second before the men from The House of Steel fired four goals in the final session to emerge 6-0 winners.
Dutiaume admitted: “If you don’t take your chances in this building you could be in for a long night.”
Fife were outshot 34-27 by the home side in this Premier Sport Elite League clash, watched by more than 6,000 fans, but Steelers didn’t secure the points until they fired three goals inside the final 13 minutes.
And Sheffield’s 27-year-old, American-born netminder, Matthew Greenfield, made a huge save at the start of the third period which proved pivotal.
Dutiaume said: “It is always tough to come into this building and I thought that we withstood some of the early pressure and looked ok.
“Unfortunately, one of the problems we had on Saturday night (in a 4-2 home defeat to Dundee Stars) was offensive production.
“We made plenty of chances but the puck was not dropping in the back of the net.”
Also worryingly for Fife’s coaching team are the goals against total of 29, the third worst in the league behind Manchester Storm (35) and Dundee Stars (34) and goals for total stands at 14, the second lowest in the league behind Glasgow (13).
Contrast that with Sheffield who have scored 37 and let in 13.
Aaron Fox, Dutiaume’s opposite number, said: “These are the games you have to be ready for. We did not have a ton of energy after getting in at 3am on Sunday morning (after winning 5-2 at Cardiff Devils).
“This one scared me a bit before it started but I was happy to see how we finished that hockey game off.”
Fife are in ninth position in the ten-strong Premier Sports Elite League with two points from seven fixtures, one point ahead of bottom-markers Glasgow Clan.
Nottingham Panthers are eighth with four points from their seven games with Dundee Stars seventh on five points from the same number of games.
Sunday’s win pushed Sheffield into top spot in the table with 15 points from nine starts, the same points as Guildford Flames.
PICTURE: Fife v Glasgow by Al Goold, courtesy of the Premier Sports Elite League
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