Fife Flyers won 2-1 in overtime at Sheffield Steelers after officials upheld Xander Lamppa’s decisive goal following a lengthy video review at the Utilita Arena.
Lamppa scored 18 seconds into the additional period, with the official game sheet recording the winner at 60:18 and crediting Victor Björkung and Michael Drábek with assists. Sheffield immediately disputed the goal, arguing that goaltender Matt Greenfield had been impeded in his crease. The Steelers also maintained that the net had been dislodged before the puck crossed the line.
Sheffield used a coach’s challenge for goaltender interference, according to the club’s match report. After the officials reviewed the incident, however, the goal was confirmed and Fife took the extra Elite League point.
The result gave Sheffield one point from their third league fixture, leaving them on three in total. Fife collected two points from their first league game of the campaign.
Review confirms Lamppa’s quick finish
The overtime decision came after a closely contested match had remained level at 1-1 through regulation. Fife had taken the lead at 11:37 of the opening period when Zachary Power converted a wrap-around opportunity, assisted by Joona Vainio and Mike Petizian.
Sheffield responded before the first interval. Aatu Aarnio drove a shot from the blue line through traffic at 15:34, with Ryan Tait and Tim Gettinger credited with the assists. The Steelers’ report said Gettinger screened Fife netminder Dominik Groh as Aarnio levelled the score.
Sheffield’s first power play, awarded after Reece Kelly was called for holding at 16:47, did not change the score. Fife’s penalty kill then withstood the home side’s remaining opportunities, including the four-minute advantage late in the second period, before the game reached overtime.
The rest of regulation did not produce another goal, despite periods of pressure and special-teams opportunities for the home side. Sheffield were unable to score on four power plays, including a four-minute advantage late in the second period after Drábek received a double minor for high-sticking captain Robert Dowd.
The Steelers began the third period with power-play time still to use but could not find a route past Groh. They later received another advantage after Power was penalised for delay of game, yet Fife’s penalty kill held again.
Fife goalkeeper Groh finished with 21 saves from Sheffield’s 22 shots. Greenfield faced 20 shots at the other end, according to the Steelers’ report. Those figures underline how little separated the sides before Lamppa’s rapid overtime intervention.
Steelers’ objections do not alter result
Sheffield’s post-match objections focused on the final sequence. The club reported that Greenfield protested immediately after Lamppa found the net, believing there had been interference in the crease. The Steelers bench subsequently challenged on that basis, while also raising the position of the goal frame.
Neither objection changed the officials’ ruling. The confirmation of the goal ended the contest 18 seconds into overtime, and gave Fife their opening league victory.
For Sheffield, the defeat represented a tight outcome rather than a one-sided performance. The hosts had opportunities to turn their chances and four power plays into a second goal, but Groh and Fife’s short-handed unit prevented them from doing so.
The wider Saturday Elite League round also saw Guildford Flames beat Glasgow Clan 4-3 and Cardiff Devils win 2-0 against Manchester Storm. Sheffield’s club reported that Guildford finished the night top of the early standings on four points from two games, while Fife joined Cardiff in making a winning start to their respective league campaigns.