Steelers stay top with one-goal win

Photo: Mark Ferris

Sheffield Steelers stayed top of the Viaplay Elite League with a one-goal road win at a sold out Storm Shelter in Manchester against the Storm.

It was a hectic start with four goals in the opening period keeping the crowd very much entertained. Cam Critchlow wristed home from the slot to open the scoring at 9:29, but Evan Mosey tied things up just over four minutes later on the powerplay. Cole Carter put Storm back ahead at 17:31 but that lead lasted only 12 seconds until Martin Látal levelled the scores again. 

17 seconds into period two, Daniel Ciampini's powerplay put the Steelers ahead, although this time they were pegged back by former Steelers Anthony DeLuca a little over two minutes later. Scott Simmonds tapped home at the back post after nice Storm passing to make it 4-3 at 34:17, but again the hosts could barely hold onto their lead for long with Robert Dowd tying the game 21 seconds later. 

Storm had a good chance to regain the lead on a Sam Jones roughing minor but failed to really trouble Matt Greenfield - shortly after the penalty had expired, Brendan Connolly got the final touch to poke the puck through Hayden Lavigne to put the visitors ahead with 10:57 to play. 

A penalty of Matt Petgrave with 23 seconds to go gave Storm a further chance to force an equaliser going 6-on-4, but much like their 6-on-5 play in the 40 or so seconds prior the hosts couldn't find a play to trouble Greenfield.