SHEFFIELD , U.K. – The Sheffield Steelers carried on their rich vein of form with another win over last years Elite League victors the Coventry Blaze.
Joey Talbot netted his second successive hat trick to add to an impressive points tally of 11 points (8+3) in his last three games.
Steelers record fifth straight win.
Both teams had chances in a scrappy first period but it was the visitors who struck first, through Russ Cowley at 11:58 to give them a 1-0 lead.
The Blaze’s celebrations were short lived as Joey Talbot equalised with his first of the night just 40 seconds later.
The second period was less than a minute old when Talbot netted his second of the night to give the Steelers a 2-1 lead at 20:57.
The Steelers pressed and Talbot completed his hat trick after a fine breakaway goal, with Jerramie Domish providing a great pass on the play to send Talbot clear to make it 3-1. The goal was Talbot’s 25th of the season.
Luke Fulghum pulled a goal back for the visitors at 30:48 after good work from Blaze stalwart Dan Carlson.
Midway through the game Blaze netminder Brett Jaeger suffered a hamstring injury after stand in defenceman James Pease tumbled into him causing the injury.
The injury seemed to spur the Blaze on and Fulghum netted his second of the game 47 seconds after Jaegers injury to put the teams back on level terms.
Steelers fan favourite Jeff Legue edged his team back in front at 38:04 with his 25th goal of the season, also with Talbot turning from scorer to provider with a great pass to find Legue in space who calmly slotted the puck home past a helpless Murdy deputising in the Blaze goal.
Joey Talbot (left) records his second successive hat trick against the Blaze (Image courtesy of Sheffield Steelers)
The second period concluded with no further scoring, ensuring Sheffield were the much happier of the two teams with a 4-3 lead going into the third period.
The third started in a fast and frantic fashion with Coventry controlling most of the play. This was reflected in the third period shot count which Coventry led by 18-6.
Former Blaze Captain Ashley Tait netted a crucial fifth goal shorthanded for the Steelers at 52:50 to give them a 5-3 lead.
Aaron Nell pulled one back for the visitors at 58:05, and with their only been a goal between the two teams, this prompted Blaze Head Coach Paul Thompson to pull goaltender Murdy in favour of an extra attacker.
The tactical choice backfired as Neil Clark was on hand to add the final nail to the Blaze coffin with an empty net goal with just 31 seconds in regulation time remaining to give Steelers a 6-4 win.
Sheffield will face a tough test when next at home on the 12th of January when they play host to the Cardiff Devils who have just recorded their fifteenth successive win, an Elite League record.
Contact the author at Scott.antcliffe@prohockeynews.com
You must be logged in to post a comment.