STEPHEN HARPER led the way for Sheffield Steelers as they snapped a three-game losing streak with a dominant win over Fife Flyers.

Harper scored twice with Mitchell Heard and Sam Tremblay also on target in a convincing 4-1 win.

Ahead of Sunday’s game, it meant the Steelers remained in third place, locked into their four-way battle for the Elite League regular season title with Nottingham Panthers, Cardiff Devils and Belfast Giants.

Steelers’ head coach Aaron Fox knew that stopping the skid was crucial to his team’s title hopes.

“It was important,” said Fox. “We needed to close the door and start playing some positive hockey here. We needed to win, most importantly. We got it and can take a couple days here and reset.

The Flyers - boasting two former NHLers in their line-up in the shape of Milan Lucic and David Booth - play a physical brand of hockey, but that didn’t change the way Fox prepared his team.

“You have to be ready to get to pucks first and not shy away from contact,” added Fox. “I feel like you can kind of take advantage of how aggressive and physical they are if you can get to your spots early, take advantage of that and transition.

“But there's got to be that buy in and a will to do that as well.”

SECONDS OUT: Stephen Harper scores his first of two goals for Sheffield Steelers against Fife Flyers. Picture: Hayley Roberts/Steelers Media.

placeholder image — SECONDS OUT: Stephen Harper scores his first of two goals for Sheffield Steelers against Fife Flyers. Picture: Hayley Roberts/Steelers Media.

While praising Harper for his two-goal tally, Fox was quick to point out the contribution made throughout the line-up.

“I thought the power play goal was great,” he added. “We moved him to the one-timer spot and (Mitchell) Balmas does a nice job of finding him through the seam, and makes them pay.

“Then the second one, I thought Mitch (Heard) and (Patrick) Watling did a good job.

“Hearder on the forecheck is just relentless, turns that puck over, and Harps finishes it off for 4-1 and that made it very difficult for them to come back.”

TOP MAN: Sheffield Steelers' players celebrate Stephen Harper's second goal against Fife Flyers on Saturday night. Picture: hayley Roberts/Steelers Media.

It was Heard who opened the scoring at 14.36 with a wrap-around before Harper bagged his first on the power play with just 21 seconds left in the period.

Goalie Matt Greenfield made a huge save on a breakaway by Flyers forward Ethan Somoza, six minutes into the second period before the Steelers increased their advantage just before the halfway mark.

Defenceman Brian Diffley released a shot from above the circles that got tipped out front by Tremblay to make the Flyers’ task even harder.

The Flyers scored their only goal with just 19 seconds left in the period, forward Keaton Jameson firing in a rebound goal on the powerplay after Steelers’ defenceman Joona Huttala took a two-minute minor for holding the stick.

Any doubts about the outcome were swept aside when Harper scored his second of the night at 46.35, Patrick Watling grabbing an assist for his first point since returning to the team shortly before Christmas.