Steelers coach Dave Matsos hailed Joe Talbot after his brace gave his team their first points of the 2008/09 Elite League campaign.
Steelers boss delighted after Devils success
Sheffield Steelers coach Dave Matsos hailed Joe Talbot after his brace gave his team their first points of the 2008-09 Elite League campaign.
After the Steelers made a shocking start to the season with a 3-1 home defeat to the Edinburgh Capitals, Talbot led the fight back with both goals in the 2-0 road win against the Cardiff Devils.
And, speaking exclusively to
skysports.com, Matsos praised the man who led the Steelers with 39 goals last season.
"Joe's got a great shot and both goals were virtually in the same spot," Matsos said.
"He's a super guy to have on our team he was a catalyst last year in the play-offs and leading up to it. It's great to have Joey back - he's a force every night."
Talbot scored with two identical wrist shots, but some ugly scenes in the last minute of the game overshadowed his performance.
Frustrated
There were three fights in the final thirty seconds and Cardiff captain Brad Voth was thrown out for attacking Sheffield defenceman Randy Dagenais.
"You don't really want to see things happen like they did at the end of the game," Matsos added.
"I know Cardiff is a tough team and sure, frustration set in a little bit. But you need to win games, no matter what it takes and that was the thinking behind our game: Go in, play them hard, stay out of it and try and get two points here to split the weekend."
Matsos also credited the Steelers' mental approach to the game after they came undone against the Capitals.
"We play by that theory that you don't get too high on the highs and too low on the lows," he said.
"It's a long season and you've got to ride it out and not get too down on yourself."
