Sheffield Steelers went joint top of the Elite League thanks to a four-point road weekend, finishing it off with a narrow win over Coventry Blaze on Sunday night.
“It was a hard-fought game, I think both teams really came and battled and competed,” began Steelers’ Mitchell Balmas. “We were able to get that third one, and it’s been great for us to sweep this weekend.”
Coventry created the first danger less than 90 seconds in, with a scramble in front of goal forcing Eamon McAdam into an early stop. Jere Vertanen then blocked a Steelers 2-on-1 and later rang a shot off the post at the other end. Sheffield opened the scoring on the power play at 04:39 when Balmas reacted quickest to a rebound and lifted the puck over Matt Robson’s pad. Blaze had late pressure in the period, including 21 seconds of a 5-on-3, but could not convert and trailed 1–0 after twenty minutes.
Coventry were unable to take advantage of the remaining power play time early in the second, and Sheffield quickly made it 2–0 at 21:36 through Robert Dowd. The Blaze hit back at 26:32 when captain Kim Tallberg broke free and finished past McAdam. Vertanen then levelled the game 2–2 at 30:51, firing a one-timer into the top corner on the power play. Robson produced several big saves late in the period to keep the game tied heading into the third.
“I thought it was a really hard-fought game, I think we deserved better than the outcome but that’s hockey,” commented Blaze’s Grayson Constable. “I’m really proud of the guys. We had some forwards playing defense, other guys out, and it’s a telling weekend to show that we work this hard and can still get results, although we just missed out on one tonight.”
The Steelers regained the lead with just over nine minutes remaining, finally capitalising on a 5-on-3 when Evan Jasper beat Robson after sustained pressure. Coventry pulled their goalie with 1:57 left and benefited from two late Steelers penalties to create a frantic finish, but Vertanen’s last-second effort went just wide and Sheffield held on for the win.
“Our penalty kill came up big at the end there, and McAdam made an excellent save right at the end, he was big all night,” concluded Balmas. “With him and Greenfield it really goes to show what you can do with two hot goaltenders.”
Constable added: “I think it was a kick up the ass for us getting some new bodies, creating that competition for places now. For me it feels great to be back in the line-up, I hate having to watch games, so it’s nice to be getting touches on the ice now.”
Photo: Scott Wiggins
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