Sheffield Steelers 3-2 Coventry Blaze
The Sheffield Steelers barely played their way to a lacklustre 3-2 win over Coventry Blaze on Saturday.
A disappointing performance from the Steelers left the crowd in unusual silence for much of the game, peaking only when Steelers goalie John De Caro made one of several saves to keep his side in it.
The home side actually got off to a perfect start as Chad Huttel got them in front at 1.43 with a clinical strike from the faceoff circle. The Steelers looked calm and dominating for the first few minutes.
But the visitors got back to even points at 12.18 with a goal from star player Shea Guthrie. From then on the home side looked shaky at best and when Colt King got a 10 minute major for ranting at a match official after being binned for slashing the team looked disorientated.
A few goal line scraps didn’t come to anything as the linesmen were keen to keep play moving – and attempts to start a fight, especially with brawler King off the ice, seemed half-hearted.
In the second period both teams failed to make the breakthrough with both sides skating end to end exchanging shots forcing both goalies to make brilliant stops.
Steelers struck first as Neil Clark scored at 17.39 following a great assist from Legue, but just 44 seconds later Guthrie levelled the score again with his second of the game.
By the start of the third period the Steelers form looked even more inconsistent, with several incomplete passes and shots slapped wide of the goal after brief shows of flourish to push it up ice.
Only the one goal in the third period gave Steelers a dubious victory and both points as Mike Ramsey found the net at 53.19 after a brilliant bit of individual skill to carry it along the boards.
The look on his face after that goal showed as much frustration as relief.
The final horn sounded with the score 3-2 Steelers.
Sheffield continued to make their way up the league despite poor performances and have capitalised on their six game advantage – overtaking arch-rivals the Nottingham Panthers into second place and closing in on current leaders Belfast.
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