Steelers make it eight wins on the bounce

Photo: Al Goold

Sheffield Steelers moved to within four points of league leaders Cardiff Devils after a 3-1 win over Glasgow Clan at Braehead Arena. 

Matt Greenfield was a big reason why the Steelers were ahead after the first 20 minutes as Clan just couldn't beat the visiting goalie despite several excellent chances to take the lead. A quick shot from Mark Simpson beat Landon Bow at 4:19 to put the Steelers ahead, and by just over nine minutes played they'd doubled it -Max Golod wrapping the puck around and finishing through Bow's five-hole at 9:02.

Bow left the net after that goal, with Lucas Brine taking over, but would return for period two.

After Alex Forbes and Deven Sideroff had seen chances stopped by Greenfield, in the closing seconds of the period Brandon Whistle ripped a shot into the top corner of Bow's net with 14 seconds left on the clock.

With 4:28 left in period two, Clan thought they'd beaten Greenfield but Rylan Schwartz's goal was ruled out as Chris McKay had batted the puck to him with his hand. Some 30 seconds later, they finally did find a way through - Reece Kelly steeping up caused an interception in Clan's end, and as they went up the ice it was eventually Schwartz with a tap in off a Matt Berry pass back across the top of the crease.

In the third, some excellent blocks by Dominic Cormier and Kevin Tansey helped the Steelers keep Clan restricted to long-range shots which Greenfield was seeing well. Clan pulled Bow with almost two and a half minutes to go, but, despite good puck pressure, really didn't force Greenfield into any desperate action in the final seconds.

The win was Sheffield's eighth in a row.