Shefield Steelers pick up where they left off to sit top of Elite League standings again

Cardiff Devils had benefitted most from the Steelers’ time on the sidelines after they were placed into the EIHL’s Covid protocols on December 27, a 6-5 win at Manchester Storm on Saturday finally seeing them overhaul Aaron Fox’s side.

But an overtime winner from Vojtěch Polák capped a fine comeback from the South Yorkshire club, who – now back in pole position – still have four games in hand on the Devils.

The night got off to a nightmare start for the hosts, however, Brett Ferguson firing past Rok Stojanovič just 86 seconds into the game, before Levi Cable doubled the visitors’ lead at 4.48.

But the Steelers were level before too long, Marc-Olivier Vallerand’s excellent wrist shot halving the deficit at 5.31, before he turned provider to set up Robert Dowd to beat Kevin Lindskoug to tie it up at 11.34.

It was a case of deja vu in the second period, 86 seconds again having elapsed before the Flames were on the board again, defenceman Jamal Watson beating Stojanovič to make it 3-2.

The Steelers hit two posts and survived two penalty kills before getting back on level terms, Vallerand getting his second with only three seconds left in the period.

With no winner in 60 minutes the game headed into overtime, the Steelers finding themselves on the powerplay from which Polak’s rocket shot secured the bonus point.