Steeldogs’ play-off bid takes backward step

Heading out on the road to face both the league and play-off champions in the space of 48 hours would trouble any team, never mind one battling to make the end-of-season play-offs such as the Steeldogs.

Andre Payette’s team - now devoid of forward Danny Wood after his return to the Elite League with Hull Stingrays - were never in the game against 2012 play-off winners Slough Jets, going down 7-0 on Saturday night.

The following night, they were in Surrey to face 2012 league champions Guildford Flames - currently the league leaders. And while it may have ended in a 23rd regulation loss of the season, there was much for player-coach Payette to be encouraged about in the 4-2 reverse.

The champions took a second-minute lead through Curtis Huppe, but didn’t add to that until the 28th minute when Ben Campbell found a way past Steeldogs’ Czech netminder Dalibor Sedlar.

Back roared the visitors, however, with two powerplay goals - halving the deficit through Steve Duncombe at 29.36 before Payette himself levelled in the 37th minute.

The next goal was crucial and it went the way of the dominant home side in the 50th minute, Richard Plant striking the telling blow. Josef Kohut’s 57th-minute strike confirmed a win which keeps the Flames one point ahead of second-placed Basingstoke Bison.

On Saturday, the Steeldogs had been able to keep hosts Slough to a 1-0 lead at the end of the first with Darius Pliskauskas’s goal all that separated the two sides.

It was in the second period, however, that things fell apart for the visitors as they conceded five goals without reply. Ciaran Long, Tomas Valecko (2), Daniel Davies and Michael Wales all found the net, with former Hull Stingrays’ forward Frantisek Bakrlik rounding off the scoring in the third period with his 27th goal of the season.

As well as drawing a blank on the road, the Steeldogs’ play-off hopes received a further knock when news filtered through of Peterborough Phantoms’ 4-3 overtime win at third-placed Manchester Phoenix.

That result leaves Sheffield - with 17 games remaining - six points adrift of Peterborough, who occupy the eighth and final play-off spot and who have played a game less.