Watling wins it in OT for Steelers

Photo: Dean Woolley

Sheffield Steelers needed overtime to beat Coventry Blaze who were good value for leading most of the game in Yorkshire.

There were no goals in a very tight opening period where each side arguable had a glorious chance each to open the scoring - both were breakaways, and both saw excellent saves - Taran Kozun from Brett Neumann's burst forward, and Matt Greenfield stopping Kobe Roth.

The scoring was opened early in period two. While Brady Norrish sat for High-Sticking, Colton Saucerman fired home Mitchell Balmas' pass to the point to give Sheffield the lead at 22:33. Another High-Sticking minor led to the Blaze tying things up - Mikko Juusola the guilty player, and Kim Tallberg finishing at the far post from a nice pass through from Ian McNulty at 32:29. Less than three minutes later, JD Dudek's shot got through Greenfield's pads to put Coventry into the lead.

There was relief around the Utilita Arena when the Steelers tied the game with one of their 14 shots in the third period to Coventry's three. Mitchell Balmas levelled it with 8:36 to play, but the host side arguably should have won the game in regulation. Blake Thompson was ejected from the game for Boarding with 4:20 to play, and that advantage was increased to two men when David Clements needlessly Cross-Checked Marco Vallerand with 24 minutes to go.

Excellent penalty killing from the Blaze saw them see out regulation and take a well-earned point.

In overtime, Patrick Watling's shot hit the post but had enough on it to carry over the goal line at 63:06 for the bonus point.