Steelers with second straight home shutout

Photo: Dean Woolley

Sheffield Steelers recorded their second straight three-goal, shutout win with a victory over Guildford Flames in front of more than 9,000 fans at the Utilita Arena.

The early stages saw the Flames create the better chances, and only a Dominic Cormier clearance off the line stopped Brett Ferguson giving Guildford the lead. However, the hosts built momentum after the visitors took two penalties to go 5-on-3 down, and then a further minor towards the end of the period, which got both the Steelers and the crowd going. No goals through 20 minutes, however.

Mitchell Balmas got on the end of a loose puck in front of Eamon McAdam after an initial Robert Dowd drive to the net to put the hosts ahead 4:30 into period two, a deserved lead on the last 15 or so minutes of the game. Some eight minutes later, a Colton Saucerman dump on net from the neutral zone was spilled by McAdam straight into the path of Brandon Whistle who neatly finished to put the hosts two up. Guildford had a series of chances while Sam Jones sat for Charging but couldn't find a way past the impressive Matt Greenfield, while a fine McAdam read to get across his create on an odd-man rush kept the visitors only two behind.

The Flames again went to work on the powerplay at the start of period three but just couldn't find a way past Greenfield. To rub salt in their wounds, Marc-Olivier Vallerand hit a powerplay goal for the hosts with just under 10 minutes to play which defeated the visitors somewhat. The Flames ended 0/3 on the powerplay after they couldn't find a goal on a Kevin Tansey minor with 6:25 to play, and the Steelers held on for their first home win over the Flames in five attempts.