Steelers head to Belfast in fine form

The defending champions followed up a 6-2 win over Braehead Clan on Saturday with a 4-0 success over 2010-11 runners-up Cardiff Devils 24 hours later.

It leaves the Steelers seven points behind leaders Belfast Giants, who easily won twice at free-falling Edinburgh Capitals over the weekend, with two games in hand. Next week’s double-header between the top two at the Odyssey Arena will, as predcited for a long tiome now, determine who wins the title, with the Steelers looking to win both games in regulation.

Following his team’s four-point haul, Steelers’ player-coach Ryan Finnerty said he was pleased to see his players finding some form ahead of their make-or-break weekend in Belfast.

“We could only really start to think about Belfast after the Cardiff game,” said Finnerty.

“We had to win these two games first and not get ahead of ourselves. We did that, we stayed focused and hit some form at just the right time.

“Belfast have plenty of depth and therefore it’s important we go into that series with three lines all playing well. I think we do.

“Against Cardiff, Legue, Ramsay and King took the lead. They made something happen pretty much every time they were on the ice.

“The night before, the Fulghum, Phillips and Hewitt line scored three goals for us, then another one on Sunday. I thought they had a great weekend.

“My line then just keeps grinding away, both Lee Esders - who I think just gets better and better - and Tom Squires both contributed well.”

After a goalless first period against the fourthplaced Devils, it was Finnerty who opened the scoring at 22.04, with Mike Ramsay adding two more before the break. Jason Hewitt rounded off the scoring with a fourth goal at 46.42.

Smarting from a 4-3 overtime defeat in Braehead on Thursday night, the Steelers set the record straight at home on Saturday, but had to come from 2-1 down early in the second period before going on to post a comfortable win.

Captain Jonathan Phillips led the way with two goals, with Tom Squires, Jeff Legue, Colt King and Luke Fulghum also getting on the scoresheet.

Hull Stingrays went down 4-1 at home to Nottingham Panthers as they continue to limp towards the post-season play-off finishing line.

Of more concern to Sylvain Cloutier’s team, however, will be the form of Dundee Stars who, after three straight wins, are now in the eighth and final-play-off place, one place and only two points behind Hull with a game in hand.

Edinburgh Capitals dropped out of the play-off positions after their two home defeats to Belfast and are four points behind Hull with two games in hand.

The Stingrays head to Fife on Tuesday night.

RESULTS

Elite League: Coventry Blaze 7 Fife Flyers 1, Dundee Stars 3 Braehead Clan 0, Edinburgh Capitals 0 Belfast Giants 8, Sheffield Steelers 4 Cardiff Devils 0.

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Twitter: @philarra