Steelers extend lead at top with narrow win

Photo: Dean Woolley

Sheffield Steelers made use of the Cardiff Devils slipping up with a 3-2 home win against Glasgow Clan - the third time the teams have ended 3-2 to the Steelers in Sheffield this season, but the first to be settled in 60 minutes.

The 7,448-strong crowd at the Utilita Arena had to wait almost 25 minutes to see the deadlock broken after a tight opening period ended goalless. 

It was the hosts who eventually did score the game's first goal, going ahead at 24:13 through Justin Hodgman's backdoor finish as Mathias Sointu played the puck back across the face of Shane Starrett's net. The Clan netminder made a fantastic save several moments later to keep the Clan just one behind, and thye were indebted to Starrett for that stop which eventually led to Nolan LaPorte wristing home on the powerplay at 30:51.

With 75 seconds left in the period, Sam Jones roofed the puck home as Starret couldn't quite dive across his crease in time to put the Steelers back ahead.

Clan played a tight final period and were level 4:24 into things through Braylon Shmyr scoring his second goal in five games since joining the team. Things remained cagey despite a couple of chances at each end, but when Marc-Olivier Vallerand was given space pick his spot in the slot the Steelers were back ahead with 5:18 left to play.

The visitors pushed for an equaliser and had a couple of half looks, plus went 6-on-4 with Starrett pulled and a late penalty on John Armstrong, but they couldn't beat Stojanovič for a third time and ended with their third defeat of the week.