The clock has just struck 8.15pm and inside Sheffield’s Utilita Arena a showdown between the two biggest rivals in British ice hockey is simmering towards what promises to be a gripping climax.
Moments ago, a burly Canadian named Patrick Watling smashed the puck into the top corner of the visiting side’s goal, putting the orange-clad home team, the Steelers, 2-1 ahead in a closely contested cup game.
Most of the 8,000-strong crowd, which includes many families decked out in Halloween-themed fancy dress, are now hoping this slender lead will hold until the second of the game’s three time periods.
Yet, with five minutes to go, Adam Johnson, who plays for the visiting Nottingham Panthers, makes a dangerous break up the left-hand side of the rink, snaking his way into the attacking zone.
The awful sequence of events that unfolds in the next few seconds of Saturday night’s encounter will be seen, and talked about, around the world.
Hellbound and Down 