Sheffield Steelers 5 Edinburgh Capitals 2: Five-star Steelers go second in table

Steelers glided into second place in the league table with a 5-2 victory over Edinburgh Capitals.
Levi Nelson and Marcus NilssonLevi Nelson and Marcus Nilsson
Levi Nelson and Marcus Nilsson

With Nottingham Panthers beating league leaders Cardiff Devils on Tuesday, the iceSheffield win saw Sheffield snip their deficit behind the Welsh to six points, with 18 to play for.

Steelers leaped over Belfast Giants into second, a position they haven’t enjoyed since December.

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Rod Sarich, who last played for Sheffield in September, was a starting d-man against the bottom club.

The rearguard had to be on their toes with Jacob Johnston threatening with his quick puck delivery.

Sarich’s loose pass up the wing saw a turnover in which Garrett Milan fired into goalie Ervins Mustukovs’ blocker.

Things happen whenever Ben O’Connor is on the ice and his back-hander ruffled the side-netting.

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But we had to wait 15 minutes for the first accurate shot, Markus Nilsson finding a way past Travis Fullerton from the right.

Caps blew a fuse and manhandled a linesman when a “too many men” penalty was overlooked.

Thirty two seconds after the break Mathieu Roy uncharacteristically shot wide but Nilsson swept in the puck for 2-0.

It started an avalanche of Sheffield chances. It was one sided hockey - Storm Doris had arrived early for Caps’ beleagured defence.

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The pipework saved them, Liam Kirk had two chances on his first shift before John Armstrong poked in the third from close range at 24;50.

And an over-run Caps couldn’t contain Rob Dowd fizzing around their net - he got number four at 38;37.

Paul Thompson’s men continued to dominate puck possession, their four line hockey irrepressible and Geoff Walker unlucky not to cash in with a goal or two.

The question remaining was whether Mustukovs would chalk up his third shut out of the season.

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A Kirk penalty provided a consolation goal for Ian Schultz at 55;14.

Honour was restored with a reply from Dowd. But Edinburgh’s Milan poached another with 17 seconds left.

Steelers have now won eight out of their last nine games.

They go into Saturday’s home date with Nottingham filled with confidence - and hopefully their injured players will be available for selection.