Steelers cut gap on top two

Photo: Dean Woolley

Sheffield Steelers made full use of Cardiff Devils and Belfast Giants not playing to cut the gap on the top two with a 4-1 win over Guildford Flames at the Utilita Arena, although had the Flames taken their chances it may well have been different.

Guildford were given an early man-advance when Dominic Cormier shot the puck out of bounds, but having killed that off the Steelers took the lead - a faceoff win by Mark Simpson and a quick shot from Max Golod getting past Jake Kupsky at 3:37. A clever Golod pass set up Brien Diffey for a second at 12:58, but while Kupsky made the save it was Simpson on hand to put home the rebound. Two penalties on the Steelers saw Ethan Strang score 5-on-3 at 16:12 to get the Flames back into things.

The Steelers were unable to add to their lead on a Flames bench minor that carried over into period two, but Guildford started to press and came close to an equalizer on a couple of occasions – Matt Greenfield stood in the way multiple times over the frame to keep his team ahead. Having soaked up some decent Flames’ pressure, the Steelers went back two ahead as Daniel Leavens one-timed Simpson’s pass at 36:43.

Going into the final period two down, the Flames created a hatful of chances to get themselves back into it. Ryan Tait fired over in close when it looked easier to score, Josh Waller rang a shot off the underside of Greenfield's crossbar, and a Charlie Curti shot from the point caused chaos in the crease only for the Steelers goalie manage to cover the puck. 

As the Flames pushed with an empty net, Charlie Dodero was called for Elbowing after a high hit on Mikko Juusola chasing down an empty net with 65 seconds to go, making the visitors' task somewhat harder. Golod, who opened the scoring, finished it with an empty-netter with 29 seconds remaining to settle the game, and put him on 22 points in just 19 games since joining the team/