Braehead Clan 2-5 Sheffield Steelers

Mathieu Roy, from close range, set the champions on the road to victory after just 33 seconds with a goal on the first shift.

By 7.25 it was 3-0 for Sheffield, with Jeff Legue and Fredrik Vestberg making the most of the opportunities.

While the Scots got one back, through Matt Haywood, Steelers powered into a 5-1 away lead through Luke Ferrara and Levi Nelson.

Clan hit back before the end of the second period - Matt Keith scoring 59 seconds before the break.

Paul Thompson commented: "I thought we were good tonight - we controlled the game from the first minute to the 60th.

"We came out flying and took the game to Braehead, in no time we were 3-0 up - even when the Clan had pressure I felt we were still in control.

"The 5 on 3 kill was a big point in the game, had they have scored well you don't know what could have followed but our kill was outstanding and we gained even more drive after that. The kill was good and the power-play 1 for 2 again, we scored a nice power-play goal tonight.

"We nullified a very good Braehead side with a lot of talent in its ranks - I'm very pleased.We have another huge game tomorrow against Coventry and those are two points we need very much."

Steelers are second behind the league's other form team, Cardiff Devils, having lost at home to the leaders, have dropped to third.

Nottingham Panthers

RESULTS

Saturday 19th December

Elite League

Braehead Clan 2 Sheffield Steelers 5

Coventry Blaze 4 Dundee Stars 3 (PS)

Edinburgh Capitals 2 Belfast Giants 7

Fife Flyers 5 Manchester Storm 3

Nottingham Panthers 3 Cardiff Devils 5

FIXTURES

Sunday 20th December

Elite League

Cardiff Devils v Braehead Clan – 6.00pm

Dundee Stars v Fife Flyers – 6.30pm

Edinburgh Capitals v Belfast Giants – 5.30pm

Manchester Storm v Nottingham Panthers – 5.00pm

Sheffield Steelers v Coventry Blaze – 5.00pm