Steelers recover to see off Capitals

The Scottish side had come into Sheffield Arena having pulled off a stunning 3-2 victory at leaders Coventry Blaze on Wednesday night.

But it looked like it was going to be plain sailing for reigning league and play-off champions Steelers - who had reserve goaltender Dan Green between the pipes - when they raced into a 3-0 first period lead.

Robert Farmer grabbed his first league goal of the season with just 5.30 on the clock, before centre Matt Hubbauer extended Steelers' advantage at 8.41.

Farmer got in on the act again for his second of the night at 11.25, prompting some to dream of a repeat of the 8-0 victory Steelers enjoyed over Edinburgh at Ice Sheffield on January 10.

But four minutes after the players took to the ice again for the second period, Edinburgh were back in the game, courtesy of a 5-on-3 powerplay which ended with Simon Lambert scoring his 22nd goal of the season.

Owen Fussey then made it a one-goal game at 33.27 and, just over two minutes into the third period, the visitors were level through Scott McKenzie. The unthinkable then happened when Mark Garside's ninth of the season saw Edinburgh complete their comeback to take a 4-3 lead.

But that lead didn't last long as Jason Hewitt levelled for Steelers at 50.35 to set up a tense last 10 minutes.

With four minutes left, a powerplay opportunity opend up for the visitors but, they got it horribly wrong allowing Doug Sheppard to pounce for a short-handed goal for the home side to see Steelers regain the lead.

As Edinburgh desperately tried to find an equaliser they were forced to pull netminder Cody Rudkowsky and his absence allowed Joey Talbot to make the points safe for Steelers with an empty net goal in the closing moments.

Steelers will now hope to stretch their winning streak in the league to three games by securing an overdue victory against fierce rivals Nottingham Panthers at the National Ice Centre on Saturday.

Bottom club Hull Stingrays visit Sheffield Arena on Sunday evening.