Elite League: Steelers hammer Vipers

A SECOND PERIOD goal-rush lifted Steelers clear of Newcastle Vipers into sixth place in the Elite League with a 6-3 victory.

The two sides went into Friday night's game in Sheffield level on points but Steelers proved too strong for their struggling rivals.

It took until the 18th minute for Sheffield to break the deadlock, however, when a perfect pass from Jason Hewitt found Robert Farmer in front of goal.

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Matt Hubbauer tipped in a Rob Dowd shot to double the advantage early in the second period before three goals in just under four minutes sealed the game.

Dowd got on the scoresheet with a close-range effort at 31.24. Two minutes later Joey Talbot added a fourth and Hewitt pounced on the rebound from his initial shot to make it 5-0 at 34.57.

Newcastle pulled one back through Jason Tejchma at 38.13, but the five-goal advantage was soon restored as Hubbauer struck again just a minute later.

Two final period goals from Mike Berry and Tejchma gave the visitors some hope, but in the end it was a comfortable win for Sheffield in the first of their three weekend games.

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They will attempt to edge further away from Newcastle when the two sides meet again in Whitley Bay on Saturday night, before Steelers return to South Yorkshire on Sunday to take on bottom club Hull Stingrays, who will be looking to repeat the 5-2 victory they enjoyed at Sheffield Arena last month.

Before renewing their rivalry with their Yorkshire 'neighbours', Hull will attempt to beat player-coach Sylvain Cloutier's former team at the eighth attempt when play host to leaders Coventry Blaze tonight.

In what is likely to be a dress rehearsal for the end-of-season play-offs – Hull are nine points adrift at the bottom while Coventry are three points clear at the top – forward Lee Mitchell hopes Stingrays can finally overcome the one team they have failed to beat so far this season.

"We have had some close games with them this season," he said. "But if we can win, then should we meet them in the play-offs, at least we know we can beat them.

"On any night anything can happen so hopefully it will go our way this time."

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