Pride and anger from Sheffield Steelers coach Paul Thompson after latest loss against Coventry Blaze

A 4-2 victory at home to Belfast Giants on Saturday night ensured the Steelers maintained their dominance over Derrick Walser’s team, winning seven of the eight games between the two rivals this season.

By contrast, last night saw the Steelers slip to a fifth defeat in six league meetings against bogey side Coventry Blaze – Thompson’s former club – going down 5-4 after a shoot-out at the SkyDome Arena. It left Thompson’s team four points adrift of leaders Cardiff Devils, with a pivotal double-header weekend to come between the two on February 20 and 21.

A resurgent Nottingham Panthers are up to third, four points behind Sheffield with two games in hand, while two weekend defeats for Braehead – one of them against Corey Neilson’s team – has weakened their bid to go one better than the runners-up spot they secured last season.

Thompson declared himself “proud” of his players after losing out at Coventry, but he was scathing about the officials who he felt helped cost his team a rare victory over Chuck Weber’s team – his main gripe being about the hosts’ controversial second goal.

“It was a great game of hockey from both teams,” said Thompson.

“I bit my tongue last week over some of the decisions by the officials, but I’m just flabbergasted at the level of officiating.

“My boys came here and rolled their sleeves up for 65 minutes and I’m proud of every one of them.

“But I am absolutely livid at what is happening with this league in terms of the level of officiating.”

“There’s still everything to play for, but I’m just very, very frustrated after this game.”

At 3-1 down after the first, it looked like an all-too-familiar tale for the Steelers in the West Midlands, Conny Stromberg’s 12th-minute strike in response to goals from Brett Robinson, Jim Jorgensen and Breden Walker.

Stromberg’s second at 33.28 on the powerplay made it a one-goal game before Fredrik Vestberg levelled at 48.24.

Carl Lauzon restored the hosts’ lead, only for Cullen Eddy’s 52nd-minute powerplay strike to ensure overtime and then a disappointing shootout.

On Saturday, goals from Jonathan Phillips, Guillaume Desbiens, Tyler Mosienko and Jason Hewitt saw the Steelers come from 2-0 down to sink a faltering Belfast.