Double success for Finnerty’s Steelers

Ryan Finnerty’s team moved up to joint-second in the table with Nottingham Panthers, leaving them three points behind leaders Belfast Giants.

After being given a scare by Dundee Stars on Saturday, when the Steelers rallied to run out 8-5 winners, they triumphed 2-0 at Coventry Blaze last night with goals from Jason Hewitt and Jeff Legue.

On Saturday, a struggling Dundee were 3-1 ahead through goals from Jeff Hutchins and Jeff Dolan, with new arrival R G Flath replying.

Steelers took the second period with goals from Rod Sarich and Flath, with Chris Zarb’s strike keeping the visitors in front. Steelers then took control in the third, scoring five more goals through Colt King (2), Lee Esders, Sarich and Finnerty, with Brent Hughes posting a solitary reply for the Stars.

Hull Stingrays extended their winning streak to three games on Saturday with a convincing 6-1 win at struggling Fife Flyers.

After going behind early to Mike Hamilton’s goal they hit back through strikes from Dominic Osman (2), Derek Campbell, Dmitry Rodin, Jason Silverthorn and Frantisek Bakrlik.

Last night they pushed leaders Belfast close on home ice before eventually going down 3-1.

Darryl Lloyd put the Giants ahead with a short-handed strike at 19.24, but after being outshot 21-3 in the first, Hull more than matched their opponents thereafter and deservedly drew level through Kurtis Dulle at 36.06.

That is how it stayed until Benoit Doucet scored against the run of play at 55.34. As Hull chased another equaliser and pulled goaltender Christian Boucher, Mark Garside scored an empty net goal to seal both points.

Aaron Clarke scored on his debut as Belfast Giants beat Nottingham Panthers 3-2 in the match between the top two.

In the English Premier League, Sheffield Steeldogs had a mixed weekend in a double header against Guildford Flames at Ice Sheffield, edging Saturday’s encounter 3-2 after a shoot-out before going down 4-3 in last night’s rematch.