Sheffield Steelers 6 Coventry Blaze 4

The night’s highest scoring encounter came at the Sheffield Arena as Steelers and Blaze counted for ten goals with a second period of 4-1 to Steelers proving decisive.

Neil Clark’s great start to the season continued as he scored 2+3 and Jeff Legue added 2+2 as Blaze lost out but victory was always in doubt until Clarke hit the empty net with 16 second remaining.

Earlier, Blaze had scored the only goal of the opening period with Luke Fulghum on target at 6.45.

Steelers turned the game their way in a dominating second period. League levelled at 21.36 and then Chad Huttel fired them ahead at 25.54. Mike Ramsay added a third at 28.31 before Blaze stemmed the tide at 29.14 with Fulghum grabbing his second. Steelers were not finished however and League on a shorthanded play saw the period end 4-2 in the home side’s favour.

An early third period counter by Clark at 41.23 had Steelers 5-2 ahead but penalty problems as the game wound down let Blaze right back into the mix. Powerplay goals came from Aaron Nell at 53.27 and Owen Fussey at 54.49 to pull Paul Thompson’s men to within a goal and only when Clark scored into the empty net at 59.44 could both points be iced for the home side.

Period Scores: 0-1, 4-1, 2-2
Penalty Mins: She 28 – Cov 14
Powerplay: She 0/5 – Cov 2/7
Shots On: John DeCaro 33 – Peter Hirsch 25 + 1 ENG

Referee: Tom Darnell