Steelers get Blaze home win at third attempt

Photos: Dean Woolley

Sheffield Steelers moved back to within a point of top spot in the Elite League thanks to their first home win over Coventry this season on the third attempt.

A quick Steelers break led to the opening goal of the game – Anthony DeLuca finding Eric Meland at the back post for the tap-in with just 94 seconds played. The hosts doubled their lead when Nicolai Lemtyugov turned the puck over at centre ice and set up Rob Dowd to score from a tight angle to make it 2-0 inside five minutes. Blaze Head Coach Danny Stewart called his timeout at 4:50 after the goal to calm things down.

Stewart's rallying call to his players did the trick, with no more goals for the next 25 minutes. When the next one came it was Luke Ferrara at 42:02 suddenly making things a one-goal game. However, Marek Troncinsky capitalised on a shot Jamie Phillips didn't hold to make it 3-1 just over two minutes later before Tanner Eberle made it 4-1 with 9:10 to go - the game's final goal.

Gallery