Busy Sheffield Steelers still on top after a day of rest

Marco-Olivier Vallerand scores for Sheffield Steelers. Picture: Dean WoolleyMarco-Olivier Vallerand scores for Sheffield Steelers. Picture: Dean Woolley
Marco-Olivier Vallerand scores for Sheffield Steelers. Picture: Dean Woolley
HAVING played three games in four nights, Sheffield Steelers were afforded a deserved night off yesterday.

A 5-1 Challenge Cup quarter-final first leg win over Fife Flyers on Wednesday was followed up by one-goal league wins at Coventry Blaze – on Friday – and at home to Guildford Flames 24 hours later.

Saturday’s 6-5 victory was the Steelers’ second such win over Paul Dixon’s side in the space of seven days, Guildford coming off second best in a 4-3 defeat at the same Utilita Arena venue.

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It meant that the Steelers could take yesterday off safe in the knowledge that they would still wake up this morning as Elite League leaders.

Sheffield Steelers celebrate against Flames. Picture: Dean WoolleySheffield Steelers celebrate against Flames. Picture: Dean Woolley
Sheffield Steelers celebrate against Flames. Picture: Dean Woolley

Cardiff drew level on points with Aaron Fox’s team again, but are at a slight disadvantage having played five games more.

Belfast, who edged out Cardiff 1-0 on Friday night in Northern Ireland, sit three points off the top two, having played the same number of games as the Steelers.

Three third-period goals were enough to help the Steelers to a second successive home victory over Guildford.

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Robert Dowd got the credit for the Steelers’ opener at 9.57 before, just 50 seconds later, Evan Mosey made it 2-0. But powerplay markers from Chris Gerrie and Ian McNulty brought the Flames level by the end of the first period.

Ian Watters and Steelers’ Marco-Olivier Vallerand then traded powerplay strikes before the halfway mark, Levi Cable edging the visitors ahead again at 34.13.

But a shorthanded strike from Vallerand at 45.57 was followed three minutes later by Mosey’s second of the night to put the hosts in control, a situation improved further by Robert Dowd at 48.20. Robert Lachowicz scored late on for the visitors, but the Steelers bagged two vital points.

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