Sheffield Steelers and Belfast Giants turning Elite League title bid into two-horse race

SHEFFIELD STEELERS posted yet another four-point weekend to maintain their lead at the top of the Elite League standings - but they still can’t shake off Belfast Giants.
By Phil Harrison
Published 27th Feb 2022, 22:23 BST
Updated 28th Feb 2022, 09:06 BST

Because while Aaron Fox’s team were busy beating Nottingham Panthers and Coventry Blaze, their main title rivals were also putting together another accomplished 48 hours work, following up a 3-2 win at the Skydome Arena with a 6-3 triumph on home ice over Manchester Storm.

The weekend was memorable on a personal level for Steelers’ Robert Dowd, his goal in the 53rd-minute of the 7-3 hammering of the Panthers bringing him his 267th Elite League goal for the club, passing Jeff Legue’s record to become the club’s all-time leading goal scorer in the EIHL era.

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His strike helped kill off the Panther who had matched the Steelers in front of a sold-out Motorpoint Arena crowd on Saturday night.

RECORD BREAKER: Robert Dowd signals his delight after setting a new record for goals scored in the Elite League era by a Sheffield Steelers' player, making it 5-3 against hosts Nottingham Panthers on Saturday night. Picture courtesy of Scott Antcliffe.RECORD BREAKER: Robert Dowd signals his delight after setting a new record for goals scored in the Elite League era by a Sheffield Steelers' player, making it 5-3 against hosts Nottingham Panthers on Saturday night. Picture courtesy of Scott Antcliffe.
RECORD BREAKER: Robert Dowd signals his delight after setting a new record for goals scored in the Elite League era by a Sheffield Steelers' player, making it 5-3 against hosts Nottingham Panthers on Saturday night. Picture courtesy of Scott Antcliffe.

Justin Hodgman, Martin Látal and Vojtěch Polák (2) had the Steelers 4-3 ahead before Dowd’s timely strike, with Tanner Eberle and John Armstrong rounding off the scoring.

On home ice against Coventry, the Steelers recovered from 2-0 down to fire in five unanswered goals, Látal, Sam Jones, Hodgman, Brandon Whistle and Kevin Schulze finding the net.

In NIHL National, Leeds Knights enhanced their chances of a top-two finish with two wins over the team currently lying in second place, Swindon Wildcats.

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Ryan Aldridge’s side edged out his former club 5-4 after a shootout on Saturday night in Swindon before prevailing 8-5 in a pulsating encounter at Elland Road 24 hours later.

BIRTHDAY BASH: Kieran Brown posted a 2+3 display for Leeds Knights in the 8-5 win over Swindon Wildcats on Sunday night. Picture: Bruce Rollinson.BIRTHDAY BASH: Kieran Brown posted a 2+3 display for Leeds Knights in the 8-5 win over Swindon Wildcats on Sunday night. Picture: Bruce Rollinson.
BIRTHDAY BASH: Kieran Brown posted a 2+3 display for Leeds Knights in the 8-5 win over Swindon Wildcats on Sunday night. Picture: Bruce Rollinson.

The points put Leeds level with Sheffield Steeldogs, who ensured they remained fourth with a 5-2 win at home to Peterborough Phantoms, courtesy of goals from Matt Bissonnette, Jack Brsammer, Andreas Valdix, Jason Hewitt and Lee Bonner.

They came unstuck last night, though, losing 4-2 at second-bottom Raiders, Bonner again on the scoresheet, alongside Nathan Ripley.

Related topics:Sheffield SteelersNottingham PanthersRobert DowdLeeds Knights

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