Steelers complete historic week with four-point weekend

Photo: John Uwins

Sheffield Steelers moved to within a pair of points of top spot in Challenge Cup Group A with a 3-1 win in Guildford, ending an historic week for the club with full points in EIHL competition.

The only goal of the opening period went the way of the visitors. The Flames failed to clear their zone properly and turned the puck over to Mark Simpson who dropped the puck back to Mitchell Balmas for a wrist-shot finish with 11:42 played.

4:13 into the middle period, a Mikko Juusola pass across the slot found Robert Dowd at the back post, and the Elite League's all-time record point scorer's ambitious backhand swing saw the puck squeeze past Eamon McAdam and into the net.

Daniel Leavens deflected Kevin Tansey's feed past McAdam at 25:58 as the Flames again gave the puck away in their own zone and found themselves three behind.
The hosts got themselves on the board with 29:33 played - a loose puck in the crease was scooped clear of the net but bounced in off Jack Jacome. The goal was reviewed to see if Jacome had deliberately put the puck in with his glove, but the officials determined it was fired at him and the goal stood.

Sheffield were guilty of over-complicating a couple of plays in the final period which could have put the game to bed, opting for a pass too many on occasion. Leavens drew McAdam into a decent save late on, and although the Flames pulled McAdam for the extra skater with 80 seconds to go they couldn’t find a further way past Matt Greenfield and the Steelers took the 3-1 win.