Guildford Flames and Sheffield Steelers played out a 1-1 draw at the Guildford Spectrum on Saturday afternoon in the opening leg of their EIHL quarter-final, a match that produced two first-period goals and then two separate major fight sequences - at 18:06 and 49:24 - that accumulated an extraordinary number of penalties between them without altering the scoreline. Both legs of the fight incidents will likely face EIHL review. The series is level going into the second leg at Sheffield.
Watson gave Guildford the lead at 8:29 from Preziuso and Jacome, and Jasper levelled for Sheffield at 11:20 from Tait and Diffley. After that, the match was shaped more by discipline incidents than by goalscoring opportunities.
Two first-period goals - then the first fight at the buzzer
Watson opened at 8:29 from Preziuso and Jacome to give Guildford the lead on home ice. Jasper levelled for Sheffield at 11:20 from Tait and Diffley to make it 1-1. Dowd was penalised for tripping at 13:51 before the first major fight sequence. At 18:06 - with the buzzer almost upon the first period - Racine (GUI) and Watson (GUI) both received five-minute fighting majors, alongside Huttula (SHE) and Tait (SHE) receiving five-minute fighting majors each. Four simultaneous fighting majors at 18:06. The first period ended 1-1.
A goalless second - simultaneous roughing calls
The second period produced no goals. Cormier (SHE) and Jacome (GUI) both received simultaneous roughing calls at 28:14 which cancelled out. No scoring resulted and the period ended 1-1.
Third period - Tansey's three penalties, Racine's two match penalties
At 49:24 the match's most serious incident occurred. Tansey (SHE) received a five-minute fighting major, a 10-minute instigator misconduct, and a two-minute instigator minor - three simultaneous penalties. Racine (GUI) simultaneously received a five-minute fighting major and two separate 20-minute match penalties - one for fighting, one for checking to the head. These incidents will almost certainly face EIHL review and may affect availability for the second leg. Despite Guildford having a substantial power play advantage from the net penalties, neither side scored.
Guildford called their timeout at 56:21 as Huttula was penalised for interference, giving them a further power play in the final four minutes. They could not convert. The match ended 1-1.
Result: Guildford Flames 1 – 1 Sheffield Steelers
Guildford Flames scorers: Watson 8:29 (A: Preziuso, Jacome)
Sheffield Steelers scorers: Jasper 11:20 (A: Tait, Diffley)
Goaltenders: Justin Fazio (GUI) | Matthew Greenfield (SHE)
Note: Racine (GUI) received two 20-minute match penalties at 49:24 - fighting and checking to the head - and will likely face EIHL review. Tansey (SHE) received three simultaneous penalties at 49:24. The 18:06 four-fight sequence may also be reviewed.