NEILD CLOSES THE OVEN DOOR ON SHAKE 'N BAKE SEASON

For the Steelers, the objective was clear - getting over the hurdle of putting away a team in the first round of the playoffs - something that the team had not done since it's inaugural season in E1 division. For Shake 'n Bake it was an opportunity to redeem themselves after an opening series 5-1 loss. Game 2 started in similar fashion as the series opener with the Bakers taking the play to the Steelers and getting most of the quality scoring chances and opened the scoring only 4 minutes into the game. Despite their quick start, the Steelers evened the contest when Gualter Carvalho neatly finished on a nice feed from Gerry Jones. Mike Didulka was then hauled / mauled down nearing the end of the 2nd period and the official appropriately awarded Mike a penalty shot. We're not sure whether is was the glamour of the spotlight or the fact that just before attempting the penalty shot Didulka was berated by fellow Steeler, Todd Nicholl, for taking a 3 minute shift, but whatever it was, Didulka made no mistake snapping home the go ahead goal past the Baker goalie (also, coincidentally named Mike [isn't that neat?]). The game was, as expected, a chippy, often over the line dirty affair as the Bakers were taking liberties with many of the Steelers and the officials were not quick to penalize anyone. The Steelers took a 2-1 lead into the third, but to the Bakers credit, the Steelers lead was due in very large part to Steelers goalie, (also named Mike - holy cow, is everybody named Mike???) Shipticki, who played out of his mind on this night with many highlight real stops. The Bakers finally got the tying goal with just under 4 minutes remaining in the game. However, because the Steelers won game 1, the Bakers needed to win Game 2 outright in regulation time to force a series deciding overtime…and with just under 2 minutes remaining, that’s what they did. An empty netter completed the regulation time scoring.

The Steelers gathered themselves and came out flying in the overtime while the Bakers continued to apply the hooks and the slashes with the officials seemingly turning a blind eye. The teams traded changes in the extra frame, but only 1:20 into the overtime frame justice prevailed, as Kevin Neild took a great pass from Didulka and buried it past a helpless Baker goalie to give the Steelers the huge win, eliminating the Shake 'n Bakers.