Sheffield Steelers 2 Nottingham Panthers 3 (OT)
Aggregate score from 1st leg: 1-1

Steelers at full strength, Panthers missing youngster Daniel Scott.

Kim Ahlroos ensured Nottingham beat Sheffield in a cup final at last with the first shot of overtime. 6724 were there to see Mikko Koivunoro pick out Ahlroos on the right and his first-time shot screamed past Bronsard.

How they and their fans lapped it up!

This enthralling game saw Panthers jump into a two goal lead in the first 8 minutes, thanks to a little indiscipline from the home side. But when Anderson squared the game with just over 10 minutes left, when Panthers had penalty problems, Sheffield had the momentum and looked likeliest to win.

Panthers produced the early pressure but Bronsard was not tested.

Dutiaume got away down the right and Sundberg gloved top left. Then Adams obstructed Sundberg behind his net and with Hanson's arm raised for the delayed interference penalty, Panthers took the play to the Sheffield net and Peron took a slashing penalty. So Panthers had 2 minutes of 5-on-3 starting at 4:39. Panthers showed plenty of patience choosing to tease the home defence back and forth rather than just blasting in shots. Bolibruck's stick caught Cadotte for 4 minutes accidental high sticks (5:01) but that penalty couldn't start until the first two ended. Steelers got Adams back and with Peron waiting for a whistle to rejoin play, Jinman netted from the right (6:59).

Sheffield now had just a single two minute penalty left on that clock and Craighead blasted a second powerplay strike from the left (8:05) to put the visitors in a commanding position.

Peron fired in straight from a left face-off and when Stancok hooked Bolibruck, Steelers started to test Sundberg. Irving fired in from the right and there was a mass pile-up at the Panthers net trying to reach the loose puck. Shudra appeared to keep the puck in at the blue line and his right wing shot squeezed through Sundberg's pads (12:09) but the linesmen indicated the puck had cleared the zone and the effort was washed out. Seven seconds later Adams' shot from the left found Sundberg's glove and Bolibruck was denied shooting from the right. Sheffield were now firmly on top.

Sheffield started the second on the powerplay but only Peron tested Sunberg whilst Craighead forced a pad save at the other end. Peron burst down the left with Dutiaume inside, but elected to shoot nearside and Sundberg pulled two saves.

Twice Boilibruck blasted in from the top of the slot as Nottingham struggled to clear their zone. Adams was next to work Sundberg, then on a rare break Bronsard fumbled an easy shot but poked the puck to safety just in time.

Clarke's interference penalty saw more pressure on the Panthers goal and Adams twice forced saves but in truth the pace was beginning to slacken a little as both teams were gasping.

Anderson got away down the left and Sundberg padded the puck out for another huge pile-up with Irving chasing.

Dutiaume went down the left but play was stopped for DeWaele's slashing penalty. Lots of pressure from the visitors, but no saves for Bronsard to make. With Bolibruck back Jinman broke down the left and his pass was met first time by Cadotte, but somehow Bronsard got across and froze the shot under his pads.

Sheffield resumed their pressure on Panthers' net. Darling and Peron fired in before Jinman's shot was gloved to safety by Bronsard. Then Anderson's hit a crisp wrist shot from the left wing and it flew into the top corner (38:54) and suddenly the home fans came alive.

Sheffield kept the pressure going in the third period. Craighead was blanked attempting to a wrap-around at Bronsard's right post but Sundberg was the busier, Adams in particular forcing saves left and right.

Taubert went for high sticks and when Craighead follwed for the same offence 42 seconds later, the home side had 78 seconds of 2 man advantage and coach Mike Blaisdell called a timeout. Shudra (twice) and Dutiaume forced saves. Just as Taubert returned Anderson fired home high (49:22) and suddenly it was game on.

Just over 2 minutes later Dutiaume took a roughing penalty at his own end and Adey called a timeout, but only Jinman tested Bronsard.

Tellingly, inside the final five minutes it was Bronsard who seemed to be making the saves with Ahlroos, Craighead and Stancok all trying their luck. Craighead and Irving both had chances to clinch the win but both skied their efforts.

Then came that overtime winner.