SHEFFIELD STEELERS made sure they enjoyed their return home after three weeks away when they got back to winning ways against Manchester Storm.

Since beating Fife Flyers 4-1 at the Utilita Arena on January 3 Aaron Fox’s team endured something of a blip on the road, losing four out of five, including two heavy defeats to Elite League title rivals and current leaders Belfast Giants last weekend.

Throw in the fact that the two previous encounters against Manchester had ended in defeat and there were plenty of reasons to be worried.

But on Saturday, in front of a 9,000-plus crowd on a night marking - the first of two home games this weekend - the Steelers came through as convincing 5-2 winners against Cal Critchlow’s team.

The win was secured thanks largely to a dominant first 40 minutes, although the Storm ensured a nervous last five minutes when they pulled the game back to 4-2 before Mitchell Balmas put the game to bed with a last-minute empty netter.

“It was an important game for us to get back on track, good to be back at home here, awesome crowd,” said Steelers’ head coach Fox.

“I thought it was important for us to start that game off the right way and I thought we built into it shift by shift and I felt every line gave us a good one to start and then we kind of just started playing our way and got rewarded by doing the little things right and out-competing that team.

“I felt we did a good job of closing out, maybe got a little panicked at times in the third and got away from what we did so well in the first 40 to be successful, but at this point, right now, we’re just looking to turn the situation a little bit for us and this was a huge win to get that started hopefully.”

BACK IN THE GAME: Sheffield Steelers' Mitchell Balmas takes a tumble under pressure from Manchester's Stephen Johnson during Saturday's 5-2 win at the Utilita Arena. Picture: Dean Woolley/Steelers Media.

placeholder image — BACK IN THE GAME: Sheffield Steelers' Mitchell Balmas takes a tumble under pressure from Manchester's Stephen Johnson during Saturday's 5-2 win at the Utilita Arena. Picture: Dean Woolley/Steelers Media.

Two goals within 16 seconds of each other early in the first period will have helped settle any nerves there were on both the home bench and in the crowd.

Mikko Juusola got the ball rolling when tipping in from in front off Brien Diffley at 6.39 with the crowd on its feet again soon after when Balmas found Evan Jasper with a stretch pass, allowing the 33-year-old left-hander to fire high past Drew DeRidder in the Storm net to make it 2-0.

Heard then did well down low after hitting the cross bar to find Jasper in front to make it 3-0 in the 37th minute, the Steelers further establishing their authority midway through the third when Patrick Watling scored on the turn for his first goal since coming out of retirement.

Just 28 seconds later, however, Josh Crawley then tipped in off fellow Brit Rais Francis to make it 4-1 at 51.20, Stephen Johnson reduced the deficit further just under four minutes later before Balmas quelled any home concerns with his 25th of the season with just 26 seconds remaining.

DOUBLE DELIGHT: Evan Jasper celebrates his first goal of the night against Manchester Storm. Picture: hayley Ropberts/Steelers Media.

Diffley hopes the Steelers can build on the welcome win when they host Cardiff Devils on Sunday (face-off 4pm).

“It’s what we needed,” said the defenceman. “Everyone in our locker room knows what we’re capable of.

“We had a reset this week and knew if we put some results together, we’re still right there. We strung together 50 good minutes tonight - now it’s about making it 60 and building on this.”