Sheffield Steelers beat Coventry Blaze in a shootout at the Utilita Arena after a 3-3 tie through regulation and overtime. The two points helped them cut the gap at the top to six points behind Belfast.
“I thought we battled really hard and had our legs all night,” said Steelers’ Mitchell Balmas. “We were competing and you could see we wanted it. It went both ways, they would strike but we would answer. McAdam made a couple of massive saves for us in the shootout.”
Coventry opened the scoring just over seven minutes into the first period when Jordan Power’s shot was saved by Eamon McAdam, but the rebound fell to Matthew Gleason, who snapped the puck home.
The Steelers levelled the game when Joona Huttula broke away on a two-on-one and set up Patrick Watling at the back post to finish with a one-timer.
The Blaze went ahead again early in the second period on the powerplay when Adam Robbins forced the puck over the line from a scramble at the top of the crease.
The Steelers responded less than a minute later as Dominic Cormier converted a rebound after Robert Dowd’s initial effort had been stopped by Mat Robson.
Coventry restored their lead soon after when Mike Pelech stuffed the puck home from close range, but the Steelers tied the game once again as Evan Jasper fired home from the slot following a pass from Jack Dougherty.
“I thought it was a really good hockey game and probably very entertaining for the fans,” added Pelech. “We had some big saves from Robson, it went back and forth and then obviously in a shootout anything can happen. It didn’t go the way we wanted.”
Neither side could find a winner in regulation or overtime.
The Steelers secured the extra point in the shootout. Mitchell Heard and Mitchell Balmas both scored to put the hosts ahead, and although Grant Mismash pulled one back for the Blaze, Kim Tallberg was unable to convert in the fifth round to keep the shootout alive.
“Especially in their rink, Sheffield compete hard every night,” added Balmas about Sundays game in Fife. “Even though they’re out of it and not playing for a playoff spot, if we don’t match their effort and their compete it’s not going to go the way we want it to.”
Photo: Dean Wooley
