Timely Michel goals keep Steelers close

With 15 games remaining, third-placed Steelers remain seven points adrift of Nottingham and will require their East Midlands rivals to slip-up elsewhere if they are to entertain any hope of winning a fourth league title.

Michel’s overtime winner sealed a 3-2 win at Edinburgh Capitals, 24 hours after a far-from-easy 5-4 triumph at home over Cardiff Devils.

Simon Ferguson put Steelers ahead in the first period at Murrayfield before Curtis Leinweber quickly levelled.

Jason Hewitt scored late in the third period to restore the visitors’ advantage, but Brent Paltry struck with just 15 seconds remaining to take the game into overtime, where Michel struck the crucial blow to earn a vital second point.

On Saturday, Steelers opened the scoring through Ferguson in the 11th minute, although the prolific Mac Faulkner restored parity with a short-handed strike at 15.46. Drew Fata’s powerplay strike made it 2-1 to Steelers at 18.02, but the visitors refused to go away, levelling at 21.41 through Josh Bruce.

Two goals in 43 seconds, however, gave the Steelers some welcome breathing space, Ashley Tait scoring first at 32.36 before Fata grabbed his second of the game at 33.19.

Cardiff made it 4-3 at 53.21 through Phil Hill and as the Devils chased the game – pulling goaltender Chris Whitley – Michel hit an empty-net strike at 58.51.

The home side’s nerves frayed again though when Faulkner struck on the powerplay with 14 seconds remaining, but the Steelers held on.

n Sheffield Steeldogs enjoyed a pivotal weekend in their battle to make the English Premier League play-offs.

Andre Payette’s team closed the gap on eighth-placed Peterborough Phantoms to just two points by following up a 6-4 win at Telford Tigers with a 3-2 home victory over Milton Keynes Lightning.