Steelers raised their game last Sunday to power past Devon in a pulsating three-match playoff series.
They won 3-1 at the Agrena after goals by Brandt Morris, Brett Bujold and Brayden Laun, overcoming opponents who proved far tougher than anticipated.
It was the kind of consistent performance that head coach Daniel Lefebvre has been seeking all season.
Now he hopes his young charges can maintain the intensity in the next series, believed to be against Vegreville.
“It should be another good battle,” he said.
Sunday’s game was a do-or-die encounter for the Steelers. After winning the first match 3-4 at the Dale Fisher Arena, they dropped the second one 1-3 at home on Friday evening.
The defeat seemed to motivate the Steelers, who were pumped-up from the start and took the game to Devon.
It was only in the third period, with the score precariously poised at 2-1, that the Steelers began to lose a little composure and cohesion. Some of the frustration was caused by the puck slowing in the newly watered ice.
Lefebvre called a timeout to settle a few nerves. It worked, although it took the insurance of a third goal to ease tension for fans and players alike.
“They responded well,” said Lefebvre. “It feels good to get a series win finally. They battled hard. It was a good game.
“On Friday night the guys were too emotional. It was a rollercoaster – there were too many ups and downs.”
Lefebvre said often this season the Steelers have played brilliantly in flashes. The challenge was to get them to play at that level more consistently.
“The spirits are high now in the dressing room,” he said.
Lefebvre praised Devon for putting up a good fight.
“They came out hard,” he said.
Those battling qualities were in evidence on Friday night, when Devon triumphed 3-1 before a large and excited crowd at the Agrena.
The game had started so well for the Steelers. When they took the lead at 16:47 in the second period through Scott Westerlund it was no more than they deserved.
The game, however, drifted away from them and the score could have been worse had goaltender Dylan Geiger not been in fine form.
After Sunday’s fantastic performance, the Steelers must reset their sights on their next opponents.
Lefebvre believes they are Vegreville, a better team he considers than Devon. It means the Steelers will have to raise their game still further.
