Robert Dowd supercharges Sheffield Steelers' title bid
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Dowd scored five points and was a shining example of the "desperate" hockey Sheffield will need if they are to get maximum points against Giants on Saturday and Sunday.
Assistant coach Carter Beston-Will said the result and performance against Storm was a huge fillip.
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Hide Ad"We were hungry," he said, an ingredient in Sheffield's game that was plain to see for 5,155-midweek fans. "We took it up another level."
As did Dowd, who has now scored 15 goals in as many matches.
"He has had one of his better years...he was a man possessed," said Beston-Will.
"There was no stopping him. All year long he has brought it. This time of year everybody has upped their game a little bit and he is one of those guys who has done that and it has shown on the scoresheet for him."
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Hide Ad![Evan Mosey congratulated after his goal pic Dean Woolley.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjA2YTY0NzgwLTY4MTAtNDE0OS05MGE4LTIwYzBmMjY3ZWIzNzoxOTc1NjFhZi1iNTRlLTQ5YTItOTFlOS00NzJiMjE3ZTc5MDY=.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&width=640&quality=65)
![Evan Mosey congratulated after his goal pic Dean Woolley.](/img/placeholder.png)
The asst coach had praise for three-point Martin Látal, whose Ukrainian wife's family are refugees who fled the Russian invasion.
The player has put a "face on" for the benefit of his teammates.
And Curtis Warburton, who came on in goal for the final six minutes, has demonstrated his "crazy" development, said Beston-Will.
Wednesday's game was only 58 seconds old when Marco Vallerand exposed some weak Storm defending to drift in from the left and open the scoring.
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Hide Ad![Matias Sointu in action against Storm.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjRjYjNmN2EwLTFiM2EtNDAzZi04OTI0LWU1ODExODI4ZGU0OTo0NzczODdhMy03ZWNmLTQ2ZmUtYTIyMC02NzdhNGVlMzBmMTQ=.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&width=640&quality=65)
![Matias Sointu in action against Storm.](/img/placeholder.png)
Sheffield's aggressive forecheck in the offensive zone delivered a second from Látal at 6:20.
But Manchester pressed, with Frankie Melton testing goaltender Rok Stojanovic and Antonín Boruta winning a foot race with Tyson Fawcett to prevent a goal.
Storm eventually scored though when the net suddenly opened up invitingly for Curtis Hamilton.
Justin Hodgman had been toiling away in transition and his perfect cross-ice pass set up Evan Mosey to restore Sheffield's two-goal advantage.
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Hide Ad![Robert Dowd chats with Dallas Erhardt.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmY5Yjg2MTlhLTE2OWUtNGIzZC05MmUzLWY3MzdhYTBiYTMxOTozZDU0MjcxYy1hNDI0LTRmZjUtYjRiYS00YmQ4OWVhMmYzMjE=.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&width=640&quality=65)
![Robert Dowd chats with Dallas Erhardt.](/img/placeholder.png)
Visiting goalie Jason Bacashihua faced a tsunami of middle period chances.
He could do nothing about a deft touch from Tanner Eberle from an Adrian Saxrud-Danielsen shot at 26:38.
The Dowd's skill behind the net unearthed Eberle's second of the night for 5-1.
Stojankovic was caught out by a surprise shot from the right-wing which Adam Brady profited from. But by 38:19 it was 6-2, Dowd finding a pocket of space and firing in off the bar. It was the winger's sixth shot of the night and his most deadly.
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Hide AdSteelers needed to keep a calm control of the game in the remaining 20 minutes, and Manchester never looked like they'd get a look-in.
Vallerand went off for treatment after fighting Scott Simmonds in the 52nd minute but a minute later Latal crossed for Dowd to tap in number seven.
Goalie Warburton set up in Sheffield's goal at the end and had the joy of making a couple of saves and watching Látal backhand a breakaway for 8-2.
Steelers are now a single point behind Giants.