Steelers' third period takes win in Manchester

Photo: Mark Ferris

A third-period comeback helped the Sheffield Steelers to a road win in Manchester, and with it become the first team to record 700 victories across all EIHL competitions.

It was a dream start for the Storm and new signing Tayler Thompson. After a couple of early chances for the Steelers through Tanner Eberle, Thompson broke shorthanded and finished nicely past Rok Stojanovič for a debut goal at 10:52. A little over four minutes later the Storm doubled their advantage when a scramble in front of Stojanovič's net eventually saw Curtis Hamilton poke the puck home at 15:06.

Marc-Olivier Vallerand got the Steelers back into things when he capitlaised on a bobbling puck with 1:35 left in the period, but just 28 seconds later Jared Vanwormer tipped Linden Springer's shot off a set faceoff play to re-establish the Storm's two-goal advantage.

Sheffield pulled one back through Martin Látal to start period two, but just 54 seconds later Adam Brady hit back to again put Manchester two goals ahead, after which Stojanovič was pulled for Barry Brust. Látal's second of the game with 13 seconds left in the period made it a 4-3 game into the third.

A nice individual effort from Adrian Saxrud-Danielsen, finishing off a skate up the ice with an accurate wrist shot, tied things at 42:53 before late drama would have the visitors the points. Anthony DeLuca reacted quickest to a loose puck behind Ginn with 2:34 left on the clock, and Manchester's unsuccessful video review for goalie interference then left them shorthanded for the next two minutes. A further minor penalty on Dallas Ehrhardt set the Steelers up with a 5-on-3 which Vallerand made full use of at 58:38, before Sointu deflected Daine Todd's shot in front to add the Steelers seventh.

The final scoreline perhaps flattered the Steelers, but they left Manchester with the win and the Storm still searching for their first Premier Sports Challenge Cup points.

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