Steelers go top with huge home win

Photo: Dean Woolley

Sheffield Steelers moved into first place in the Viaplay Elite League standings thanks to a huge home win which saw them take advantage of Guildford Flames' loss elsewhere. 

The home side wasted no time in taking the league against Manchester Storm through Robert Dowd's deflection inside 90 seconds. Brandon McNally doubled that lead when he went by himself and slotted nicely past Jeremy Brodeur at 16:56, and the Storm's task was made even harder when Dowd made it 3-0 with 27 seconds left in the opening period. 

Dowd made it a hat trick with 23 seconds left in period two, before Sebastian Piche, and Brendan Connolly had the hosts six ahead by 46 minutes. Daniel Ciampini netted for the Steelers' seventh at 56:01, with Jesper Ohrvall pulling a consolation back for Storm with 2:37 to go.