Vital point for Steelers as race for title intensifies

But the defending champions, who also went down 3-2 after a shoot-out to Belfast last week, still remain in control of their own destiny – just – thanks to the point they earned in Glasgow on Thursday night.

Ryan Finnerty’s team had to come from two goals down after Jade Galbraith’s fourth-minute opener was followed by a 17th-minute strike from Mike Wirll.

At the halfway point, the visitors clawed their way back into the game with two goals in the space of 40 seconds.

Colt King was first to strike, grabbing his 24th goal of the campaign at 30.01 before leading scorer Jeff Legue levelled matters with his 30th of the campaign.

The Clan got themselves in front for a second time five minutes into the third through Brock McPherson but, once again, the Steelers rallied, with Mike Ramsay pouncing at 54.19 to force the game into the additional five-minute period.

It was the home side, however, who bagged the extra point on offer when Mike Bayrack fired past John DeCaro at 63.21.

The result leaves the Steelers seven points behind Belfast with two games in hand and a double-header to come between the two sides at the Odyssey Arena on March 16-17.

In Thursday night’s other game, Hull Stingrays will be looking over their shoulder more nervously as play-off rivals Dundee Stars recorded a stunning 8-3 triumph at home to Nottingham Panthers.

The result leaves Dundee still outside the top eight play-off spots, but now just six points behind and a game in hand on seventh-placed Hull, who they visit on the last night of the season.

FOUR Sheffield Steelers’ players have made the preliminary Great Britian squad ahead of this year’s World Championship (Division 1A) campaign which will be staged in Slovenia from Slovenia 15-21 April.

Head coach Tony Hand, who replaced Paul Thompson towards the end of last year, will cut the 35-strong squad down to just 23 following a three-day training camp between 10-12 April.

Back-up netminder Geoff Woolhouse gets his first call, along with defenceman Mark Thomas and forwards Jason Hewitt and Jonathan Phillips. There is no place for Ashley Tait, meaning it is unlikely he will feature again for the Steelers this season after sustaining an ankle injury at the beginning of February.

Ben Bowns, netminder for EPL outfit Sheffield Steeldogs has also been included in the initial squad.

Netminders: Ben Bowns (Sheffield Steeldogs), Nathan Craze (Edinburgh Capitals), Stephen Murphy (Belfast Giants), Geoff Woolhouse (Sheffield Steelers)

Defence: Russ Cowley (Coventry Blaze), Corey Neilson (Nottingham Panthers), Stephen Lee (Nottingham Panthers), Danny Meyers (Nottingham Panthers), Ben O’Connor (Sary-Arka Karaganda), David Phillips (SønderjyskE), Kevin Phillips (Braehead Clan), Mark Richardson (Cardiff Devils), Mark Thomas (Sheffield Steelers), Jonathan Weaver (Coventry Blaze)

Forwards: David Clarke (Nottingham Panthers), Ben Davies (Cardiff Devils), Robert Dowd (Belfast Giants), Robert Farmer (Coventry Blaze), Owen Fussey (Coventry Blaze), Mark Garside (Belfast Giants), Jason Hewitt (Sheffield Steelers), Phil Hill (Cardiff Devils), Brent Hughes (Dundee Stars), Jeff Hutchins (Dundee Stars), Leigh Jamieson (Milton Keynes Lightning), Robert Lachowicz (Nottingham Panthers), David Longstaff (Guildford Flames), Bari McKenzie (Edinburgh Capitals), Lee Mitchell (Braehead Clan), Matthew Myers (Nottingham Panthers), Arron Nell (Swindon Wildcats), Greg Owen (Coventry Blaze), Craig Peacock (Belfast Giants), Jonathan Phillips (Sheffield Steelers), Colin Shields (Morzine-Avoriaz).