Steelers squeeze past Stars

Photo: Dean Woolley

Sheffield Steelers kept their outside Viaplay Elite League title hopes alive with a much-needed home victory over Dundee Stars.

The Stars set up with a tight, defensive-focussed game that was very effective for them throughout the fixture. It was the visitors who took the lead with the only goal of the opening period - Philippe Sanche scoring with 12:24 played.

It took the home side until inside the final five minutes of period two to finally break the Stars defense down with Robert Dowd tying the game at 35:50.

Steelers forward Daniel Ciampini had an excellent chance to put the hosts ahead shorthanded early in period three but could only find the long, stacked pad of Anton Svensson.

An unnecessary boarding penalty taken by Carter Folk with eight minutes to go set the Steelers up for their fourth powerplay of the night that they finally capitalised on - Brendan Connolly got the final touch on a scramble for a loose puck in front of Svensson's net which the Stars couldn't get a stick onto first at 52:36. Toms Rutkis and Ian Parker almost combined for a near immediate response, only for Matt Greenfield's sprawling save to keep them out.

A late boarding penalty on Ben Sokay thwarted the Stars' chances of finding a tying goal, despite managing to get Svensson out for the extra attacker with 13 seconds to go.