Leeds Knights 4 Sheffield Steeldogs 1: Knights maintain winning momentum with deserved derby triumph
LEEDS KNIGHTS’ resurgence continued as they moved up to fifth in the NIHL National standings by extending their winning streak to four games with a 4-1 home triumph over derby rivals Sheffield Steeldogs.
Both teams have had stuttering starts to their respective 2026-27 campaigns, with the Steeldogs heading to West Yorkshire looking to repeat the victory they enjoyed over the Knights at Ice Sheffield when the two met on October 11.
It was the Knights – missing defenceman Sam Dunn through injury but with forward Innes Gallacher back in their ranks for his first game since February – who carried some momentum into the clash on the back of wins against Basingstoke, Solway and Telford and they quickly found their rhythm back in front of their own fans.
The deadlock was broken just three minutes in when Owen Sobchak robbed the puck in the neutral zone and quickly found Liam Peyton who drove down the middle before beating Shane Owen with a rising shot.
There was just over three minutes of the second period gone when Leeds doubled their lead, Edgars Vengis - buoyed by his call-up to the GB squad for the forthcoming European Cup of Nations - skating into the Steeldogs’ zone before laying off to Matt Bissonnette who beat Owen from the bottom of the right circle by firing into his top right-hand corner.
The Steeldogs deservedly got back in it when good forechecking forced an error below the goalline by Leeds, the puck coughed up eventually to Dante Salituro who beat Sam Gospel from close range for his 14th goal of the season from just 13 games.
Less than two minutes into the third, the Steeldogs paid the price for coughing up possession on the edge of the Knights zone, allowing Kieran Brown to drive down the left before offloading to Sobchak on his right, the import rounding Owen and firing into the empty net for a 3-1 lead.
A rare power play opportunity proved fruitful for the Knights just under five minutes later when, with Nathan Ripley in the box on a combined holding and roughing call, Bissonnette found space in the right circle before laying off to Balint Pakozdi who poked home his own rebound from the edge of the crease to put the game beyond the Steeldogs, Brown picking up his third assist of the night.
The Steeldogs will look to bounce back when they visit Bristol Pitbulls on Saturday ahead of a home clash against Milton Keynes Lightning 24 hours later.
The Knights travel up to Solway on Friday night looking to extend their winning streak to five games, taking a day off before hosting Swindon Wildcats on Sunday.