Robert Dowd proved a real thorn in Fife Flyers’ side as the Scots slipped out of the Elite League ice hockey play-offs.
The 26-year-old Great Britain international forward netted two goals for Sheffield Steelers in last night’s 3-3 draw at the House of Steel.
The Billingham-born centre or left wing has broken Fife hearts on Saturday with a goal 34 seconds from time as the newly-crowned Elite League champions edged the Scots 3-2 in the first-leg of their play-off quarter-final in Kirkcaldy.
Todd Dutiaume’s men put up a steely performance against a side which finished seven places and 27 points ahead of them in the league table at the end of the 52-game league season.
Fife knew they had a mountain to climb and the slope became steeper when Steelers rattled in three goals inside 33 minutes last night.
Top marksman Mathieu Roy opened their account after only 78 seconds and Dowd netted his first 13 minutes later. His second followed after 32 minutes but Fife responded.
Home-bred product Stephen Gunn scored four minutes later and Jordon Fulton brought the Fifers back into the tie with a second 12 minutes later. Then experienced Danny Stewart, Fife’s associate player/coach, really rattled Steelers with a leveller with just over five minutes left.
On Saturday, Fife took the lead through Jamie Milam after 26 minutes.
Colton Fretter and Michael Forney netted two goals in 72, second-period seconds to put Steelers ahead but Ned Lukacevic levelled less than six minutes from time.
That left Dowd centre stage with that goal in the final minute.
Braehead Clan’s season fell apart last night as they were edged out of the semi-finals in sudden-death.
The Scots, who finished second in the Elite League title race behind Sheffield, lost 3-1 at Hull to go out 5-4.
Carl Lauzon provided the killer blow with the winner in overtime, sending the team which finished seventh in the table to Nottingham on Saturday for the season’s showpiece play-offs.
Elite League quarter-final results:
Saturday: Nottingham Panthers 3 Coventry Blaze 3, Braehead Clan 3 Hull Stingrays 2, Fife Flyers 2 Sheffield Steelers 3.
Yesterday: Sheffield Steelers 3 Fife Flyers 3 (agg 6-5), Hull Stingrays 3 Braehead Clan 1 (agg 5-4 after sudden-death overtime), Coventry Blaze 2 Nottingham Panthers 1 (agg 5-4), Cardiff Devils 3 Belfast Giants 7 (agg 3-8).