Resurgent Steelers put dent in Blaze's title bid

Sheffield Steelers 3Coventry Blaze 2Elite League

TITLE-CHASING Coventry's championship hopes were severely dented as Sheffield Steelers picked up a fifth straight win.

After early pressure, Steelers deservedly took the lead in the 12th minute, through Jason Hewitt, but Steelers' netminder Andrew Verner was beaten a minute later by Blaze's Greg Owen.

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Steelers regained the advantage in the 27th minute as Jeff Legue struck after good work from Joe Talbot.

Blaze's Greg Chambers was handed a match penalty for abuse of official but it was the visitors who struck next, Derek Campbell firing home at 32.15.

Verner was then forced to make several excellent saves and his heroics were rewarded at 45.07 when Doug Sheppard tipped-in a Legue shot on the powerplay to seal the win and take two vital points from the Blaze, who now lead Belfast by three points with six to play.

Steelers will hope to put a dent in another title hopeful's challenge on Saturday night when they take on arch-rivals Nottingham Panthers at the National Ice Centre.

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It's not been a happy hunting ground for Steelers so far this season, losing all three of the previous encounters they have played there, as well as a Challenge Cup semi-final, second leg reverse.

Third-placed Panthers - who travel to Hull Stingrays on Sunday night - are six points adrift of leaders Coventry, although they do have a game in hand. The two sides meet in Nottingham on March 13.