Steelers stay on top with win over Flames

Photos: Dean Woolley

Sheffield Steelers stayed as the early pace-setters in the Elite League with a one win against Guildford to keep them at the top of the table.

An explosive nine-minute spell put the hosts into the commanding position of four up after 20 minutes at the FlyDSA Arena. Marc-Olivier Vallerand got the ball rolling at 11:47, followed by Jonathan Phillips 55 seconds later. Brendan Connolly added the Steelers' third at 18:34, followed by James Bettauer scoring the game-winning goal with 51 seconds left in the first period.

Bettauer struck again at 32:15 as the Steelers looked to be running away with things, but that goal was in fact the start of some resistance from the Flames. Corbin Baldwin pulled one back almost instantly, netting 23 seconds later, and then with a minute left in the period TJ Foster brought the score back to 5-2.

Ian Watters made it a two-goal game with just under 15 minutes to play, but the Flames weren't able to force anything else and the Steelers took the two points.

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