The Sheffield Steeldogs travelled to Romford today in the return league game. With key players missing it was never going to be easy for the Steeldogs.
The Sheffield Steeldogs secured a dramatic overtime victory on the road against the Romford Raiders in a high-scoring and hard-fought contest.
Sheffield struck first at 6:26 of the opening period as Bair Gendunov finished from Joonas Larinmaa and Oliver Knaggs to give the visitors the early lead.
Romford looked to respond but were slowed by penalties, first for interference at 8:54 and later for tripping at 16:08. However, it was the Raiders who found their breakthrough late in the period. After Jonathan Kirk was penalised for hooking at 18:10, Romford capitalised on the power play at 19:45 through Tjay Anderson, assisted by Jarrett Baker and Michael Power, sending the teams into the break level.
The Raiders carried momentum into the second period and went ahead at 20:47 when Jarrett Baker scored, assisted by Adam Laishram and Jake Sylvester. Romford extended their lead at 24:41 through Stanley Johnston, set up by Anderson and Ewan Hill.
A tripping penalty against Tommy Hugget at 23:05 had given Sheffield an opportunity moments earlier, and they made it count at 24:07 as Joonas Larinmaa scored on the power play, assisted by Kyle Watson and Gendunov.
Tensions rose midway through the period with coincidental minors at 28:16, before Romford struck again at 31:27 through Jake Sylvester, assisted by Laishram.
Jacob Brammer was penalised for slashing at 33:31, but Sheffield found a vital response late in the period. After Adam Laishram was called for cross checking at 37:21, Gendunov scored on the power play at 37:38, assisted by Watson and Larinmaa, to cut the deficit.
In the third period, Walker Sommer was sent off for tripping at 41:33, but the Steeldogs continued to push. Their persistence paid off at 46:29 when Gendunov struck again, assisted by Larinmaa, to level the game and complete his hat-trick.
With the sides locked at the end of regulation, overtime was required.
It took just under four minutes of the extra frame for Sheffield to seal the win. At 63:56, Gendunov scored his fourth of the night, again assisted by Larinmaa, to secure a memorable overtime victory for the Steeldogs on the road.