Dowd double beats Storm

Photo: Mark Ferris

Sheffield Steelers continued to keep up the chase on league leaders Belfast Giants with a 3-1 lead on the road in Manchester. They came up against a well-organised Storm team who would feel they were worth at least a point in front of a crowd of 2,350 at the Storm Shelter.

There were no goals in the opening period at the Shelter, both teams killing off a penalty each to keep the game deadlocked.

The Steelers opened the scoring 28 seconds into period two. patient passing around the outside of Storm's zone saw Brian Diffley shoot at David Tendeck's net through traffic, with a loose puck bouncing for Robert Dowd to slot home. 

Storm threatened an equaliser in the second without success, and then had two excellent chances on the powerplay to tie the game early in period three. Having not capitalised on Daniel Ciampini's tripping minor, the home side finally broke their duck with Brandon Whistle in the box for hooking - Craig Martin sniping into Matt Greenfield's top corner to make it all square at 48:08.

Storm's lead lasted less than 90 seconds, however. After more good passing, an excellent Colton Saucerman feed put the puck on a plate for Dowd to one-time past Tendeck from the top of the circle at 49:34. Storm's hopes of getting back into things were dented with two minors inside the final five minutes, and although they did eventually get Tendeck out for the extra skater they saw Marc-Olivier Vallerand score with 11 seconds to go to wrap up the game.