Steelers beat SHL champions for third straight CHL win

Photo: Dean Woolley

Sheffield Steelers claimed a huge scalp by defeating SHL champions Skellefteå AIK on Sunday afternoon at the Utilita Arena, their third straight win in the Champions Hockey League.

It was a dream start for the Steelers, who have led in all four of their CHL fixtures so far, who went ahead through Brandon Whistle just 2:47 into the game, converting an Angelo Miceli cross-ice feed. On almost the very next play, Joel Janatuinen came in from an angle to find the back of Alexander Hellnemo's net from the exact same spot and double the lead less than a minute later.

Skellefteå, missing some seven regular players, found their rhythm and tied the game with two goals in quick succession. Andreas Johnson hammed a rebound past Matt Greenfield at 9:38, then Zeb Lindgren took a Rickard Hugg pass from below the goal line to tie the scores a minute later. 

An excellent transition play by Joona Huttula sprung the Steelers' Mark Simpson in behind the Swedes' defence as he skated in on a breakaway and exploited Hellnemo's glove side once again to score the go-ahead goal with less than six minutes left in the middle frame.

Sheffield continued to hem Skellefteå in their own zone for long stretches as minutes waned in the third period.

The Swedish side were the recipients of some quality chances late in the period, but Greenfield maintained Sheffield's lead even as the visitors did their best to break through.

With less than two minutes left, the Swedes opted for an empty net, but the Steelers' held firm to claim another impressive win.