Steelers extend lead at top

Photo: Al Goold

Sheffield Steelers extended their league at the top of the Elite League to 16 points with their third win of the season in Glasgow over a Clan side that were undone by conceding goals at bad times.

Robert Dowd took a Robert Lachowicz turnover and fed Mitchell Balmas for the Steelers' opened in close with 8:36 played. The home side were level three minutes later, however, with Nate Kallen's lofted clearance setting Reid Petryk away on a 2-on-1 shorthanded rush. His shot was stopped by Matt Greenfield, bit the rebound fell kindly to Gary Haden to level at 11:42. A Marc-Olivier Vallerand snipe put the Steelers back ahead 2:13 before the end of the period.

Clan fought back again, this time on a powerplay with Luke Lynch joining in late to fire past Greenfield at 30:11 - the man-advantage coming after Cody Sol and Brien Diffley dropped the gloves, but the Steeler was called for an initial Cross-Check. However, the hosts were able to get themselves back ahead once again before the intermission with Patrick Watling's speed getting him to the front of the net and beating Jake Kielly over the pad with 1:43 left in period two.

Mark Simpson added an insurance goal 6:18 into period three, before Clan pulled Kielly for the extra skater but could only look on when Mikko Juusola fired into the empty near to seal the game with 88 seconds remaining.