Steelers stay top with road win

Photo: John Uwins

Sheffield Steelers stayed two points clear at the top of the Elite League with a 6-2 road win in Guildford over the Flames.

Captain Robert Dowd fired home the opening goal of the game with 41 seconds left in the opening period as the visitors broke on one of many odd-man rushes in the game. 

In period two, Eamon McAdam was the Flames' best player as he denied the Steelers from doubling their lead on multiple occasions. The visitors' pressure eventually told when Mark Simpson set up Patrick Watling for the finish in front at 36:50 which had the Steelers two ahead. That lead lasted under two minutes, however. Ryan Tait got the Flames back into things at 37:28, and just over a minute later Matt Greenfield's pass to his own defenseman was intercepted by Steven McParland and slapped into the empty net to tie the game at 38:43.

Both sides had chances to take the lead in the opening phases of the third period, but two goals in 81 seconds earned the Steelers the road points. Mikko Juusola came through at the far post to fire home a rebound after a Cole Shudra shot at 45:29, followed by Mark Simpson making it 4-2 at 46:50. Kevin Tansey had two goes at putting the puck past McAdam on the powerplay with 4:20 to play, and 14 seconds later Scott Allen fired home from the far post to make it 6-2.