Steelers cruise past Flyers

Photo: Dean Woolley

Sheffield Steelers hit eight goals in a shutout win over Fife Flyers in front of a sold-out Utilita Arena on Sunday afternoon.

Matt Greenfield was unbeaten in net for the second time in successive nights, and has not conceded a goal in the Elite League for 163 minutes and 48 seconds.

Looking to end a lengthy losing run, the Flyers took two high-sticking minors early against a Steelers team on a six-game unbeaten run. They were punished 101 seconds into the game when a Mitchell Balmas pass found Patrick Watling in space to fire past Shane Owen. Max Golod scored for the sixth straight game with a shot that snuck under the arm of Owen at 11:23 which sparked a goal rush before the first intermission. Mikko Juusola got on a rebound from a Mitchell Balmas shot at 13:57, while Daniel Leavens scored just over 90 seconds later to make it 4-0. A neat drop pass from Leavens then set up Veeti Vainio to add a fifth 93 seconds before the break.

Period two was slow to get going, but was more encouraging from a Flyers perspective. The visitors just missed a final touch to break Greenfield's shutout but a shot wide or a pass too many was their undoing. A seeing-eye shot from Dominic Cormier found the net with 3:44 left in the period to put six on the board for the hosts.

Cormier added a second at 51:09, while Balmas rounded off the scoring with 3:12 to go as the Steelers recorded a comfortable win.