Steelers beat Flames in OT

Photo: John Uwins

Guildford and Sheffield went over 64 minutes without a goal before the Steelers eventually secured an overtime win at the Spectrum on Sunday night.

The Flames started the opening period on the front foot with an aggressive forecheck and came close to opening the scoring with both Ian McNulty and Brett Ferguson forcing Rok Stojanovic into action. Sheffield created very few openings in the early exchanges but their best chance came at 11:01 when Martin Latal’s solo effort was easily stopped by Kevin Lindskoug.

Despite outshooting their rivals 34 to 16, the home side couldn’t breach Stojanovic in the Steelers net and it remained goalless heading into the first intermission.

The visitors sparked into life at the start of the middle third and Tanner Eberle hammered a wrist-shot off the bar within 20 seconds of the restart. Marc-Olivier Vallerand then came close two minutes later when he forced a double-save out of Lindskoug.

Robert Lachowicz had the Flames best opportunity on a shorthanded breakaway - 9:40 into the period - however, his one-on-one effort was comfortably saved by Stojanovic. The game continued to be played at a fast pace with plenty of attrition and heavy-hitting from both sides, but neither could create the opening as it remained 0-0 at the end of the second.

The sides remained goalless after 60 minutes with no breakthrough in the third period. Stojanovič pulled off a smart save to deny Jordan Cownie at 49:42 before Lachowicz came close with 80 seconds left on the clock.

The overtime breakthrough came just 14 seconds from the end. Daine Todd kept the possession alive in the offensive zone and then went behind Lindskog's net before stuffing the puck home as he came back in front. The Steelers took the extra point and stay top of the table, leading the Flames by five points.