Dowd sets new franchise record in Steelers win

Photo: Hayley Roberts

Sheffield Steelers cup the gap on league leaders Belfast Giants to just four points with a ruthless display against basement side Fife Flyers.

Outshooting their visitors 20-5 in the opening 20 minutes, the hosts led by just one goal thanks to Mark Simpson's drive to the net setting up Mikko Juusola at Shane Owen's far post for the tap-in. 

Mitchell Balmas cut in from the wing and got Owen to bite for the Steelers' second goal, but it was scored by Sam Tremblay after Balmas' shot was blocked en route to the empty net and fell kindly for a simple finish for Tremblay's to log his first for the Steelers. Patrick Watling's neat dangle into the slot set himself up to make it 3-0 at 32:04, with the Simpson scoring some two minutes late to put the home side in total control.

Juusola made it 5-0 3:45 into the third period as the visitors' bench of 13 skaters began to get tired. The Flyers did break Matt Greenfield's shutout just shy of the 49-minute mark through Kieran Craig, but Daniel Leavens struck at 51:11 to put the home side back five ahead. Curtis Warburton entered the home side's net for the remaining 7:49, and saw two goals go in at the other end.

Robert Dowd set a new Steelers all-time goal-scoring record with his 357th goal in orange to make it 7-1 with 56:27 played, while Marc-Olivier Vallerand finished off the scoring with 31 seconds to play.