Home comforts are crucial for Steeldogs

The Steeldogs followed up Friday night’s 4-2 home defeat to arch-rivals Manchester Phoenix in the English Premier League with a convincing 5-2 on the road at Peterborough Phantoms on Sunday night.

Now Payette is targetting a first regulation win of the English Premier League campaign against Telford Tigers at Ice Sheffield on Saturday night (7.30pm).

“The team is coming together really well now,” said Payette.

“I am very happy with the progress we made last weekend and I feel we are moving in the right direction.

“If we can get a win at home this Saturday (against Telford) we are back to .500 and things then look a lot more positive.”

The Steeldogs were the model of consistency in Peterborough, winning all three periods by the odd goal.

Early penalty problems left the visitors with plenty of defending to do at Mallard Road, but they held off until 9.21 when Tom Carlon scored on the powerplay. But, just over a minute later Sheffield were level when captain scored the first of a fine hat-trick on the night after being put clear by Lee Haywood to score a delayed penalty goal.

Wood took the team into the first period break with a 2-1 lead when he scored his second just 21 seconds before the buzzer.

An early powerplay goal from Pavel Gomeniuk at 21.08, the first of three assists by Derek Campbell doubled the visitors’ advantage and, while goaltender Dmitri Zimozdra kept the home side at bay at one end, Ben Morgan stretched the lead even further at 35.02, although Peterborough were able to hit back with just a few seconds of the second period remaining through James Ferrara.

Try as they might, the Phantoms couldn’t find a way past the impressive Zimozdra – who turned away 38 shots of the 40 on his goal – with Wood rubbing salt into the home side’s wounds when he sealed victory with an empty net goal for his hat-trick at 59.41.

“I thought it was a really good weekend with two points gained and the guys playing well,” added Payette. “I feel we are getting back on track. Derek Campbell, Steve Duncombe and Greg Wood were all outstanding in Peterborough.”

After Telford’s visit to South Yorkshire on Saturday, the Steeldogs are on the road 24 hours later, paying a first visit of the season to Guildford Flames, the defending regular season champions.

Payette’s players will be particularly keen to upset their Surrey rivals, who beat them 12-5 on aggregate in last season’s Premier League Cup final.