Another weekend and more disappointment for Fife Flyers fans with back-to-back defeats in the Elite League.
On Sunday, they battled back from a deficit to high-flying Cardiff Devils at The Fife Ice Arena after they were 3-0 down at the mid-way point.
However, a 5-0 final session scoreline completed a zero points weekend for the Fifers in an 8-2 defeat.
On Saturday, Jamie Russell, Fife’s head coach, praised newcomer Simon Despres and goaltender Shane Owen despite losing 2-1 at Sheffield Steelers, the former league pace-setters.
Despres, a former National Hockey League defenceman, only arrived in Scotland at 8am on Saturday after travelling overnight from Montreal.
It took Steelers 19min 36sec to open their account against dogged Fife. The goal came on a power play with Hunt in the sin fin for hooking and it was Stephen Harper who got the final touch after good work from Robert Dowd and Clifford Pu.
Fife responded positively and Porsberger netted after 24min 41sec with Finoro and Josh Winquist supplying the ammunition.
Less than two minutes later the men from the House of Steel were ahead for a second time, Samuel Tremblay being set up by Dowd and Evan Jasper.
Tempers flared and a period of penalties followed but the scoreline did not change despite Fife calling a late timeout and withdrawing netminder Shane Owen with 1min 30sec left.
Fife were outshot 35-30 but this was a battling performance in which Simon Despres made his debut.
Steelers felt they were not at their best but admitted that Fife pushed them hard but they collected two points. They played a hard, physical game and finished hits and Jamie Russell, Fife’s head coach, said: “It was a really good hockey game and we played a really smart road game.
“We weather the storm early, and our penalty kill did a good job. They got a penalty goal but out penalty kill team did a good job. It (the puck) changed direction twice, hitting the shin pad and then a skate, and Shane was outstanding and I was really impressed with Simon despite the travel that he has been through.
“He got into Edinburgh at 8am on Saturday and was on the bus for six hours and to play the game with the time change I thought he was fantastic.”
BATTLING: Fife and Sheffield on the boards during Saturday’s game. Courtesy of the Elite League and taken by Hayley Roberts
