Steelers edge ahead of rivals

Ben Simon's impressive team registered their biggest win of the season to date on Saturday night by walloping Vipers 8-0 at Sheffield Arena before following that up with a 5-3 road win in Whitley Bay on Sunday.

Steelers sped into a two-goal lead in the North East in the first 12 minutes thanks to strikes from Ashley Tait at 4.36 and Jonathan Phillips seven minutes later.

And after the visitors doubled their first-period lead less than seven minutes into the second, Vipers fans could have been forgiven for expecting a repeat show of 24 hours earlier.

Jeff Legue made it 3-0 at 24.23 before a powerplay strike followed from Joe Talbot at 26.56, but Newcastle reduced the arrears with their first goal of the league campaign through Toms Hartmanis at 34.41.

Although Rob Globke restored the four-goal cushion with his second of the season at 36.10, Newcastle restored some pride in the third with goals from Kyle Sibley and Jaro Rzeszutko, although Steelers hung on comfortably for another maximum weekend return and a fifth straight league victory.

On Saturday, Legue gave Steelers an early advantage at 2.09 before Steve Munn doubled the home side's lead 10 seconds before the interval.

But it was a four-goal unanswered blitz in the second period which did for the visitors. Jason Hewitt made it 3-0 at 26.13, Legue grabbed his second of the night at 33.25 before former Florida Panthers forward Globke opened his account for the season four minutes later.

Legue completed his hat-trick in the final minute of the second period.

Player-coach Simon continued his impressive points start to the season with a seventh goal at 50.26, before Mark Thomas wrapped up the scoring almost two minutes later with a penalty shot.