Sheffield Steelers 4 Coventry Blaze 1: Third time's a charm for Aaron Fox's men

Blaze had won twice at Sheffield Arena this season, but couldn't hold Aaron Fox's men, this evening, who skated out worthy winners.

Steelers were desperate for a victory after three recent defeats on the road.

And with just 106 seconds of the game gone, Marco Vallerand, started to address the problem, by scoring on a three-on-two break, assisted by Brendan Connolly and Anthony DeLuca.

Before five minutes were up Robert Dowd, the EIHL's top goalscorer, potted another, assisted by Nikolai Lemtyugov.

The game warmed up further when DeLuca was involved in a confrontation, taking a fighting penalty, with Ross Venus after 17 minutes.

Steelers had two power play opportunities in the first half of the second period, but couldn't add another goal.

Blaze, who suddenly appeared on every EIHL hockey fan's radar after their recent 9-2 destruction of Glasgow Clan, were struggling to find a way back into the game after 40 minutes.

Steelers, who had d-man Aaron Johnson returning after long term injury, couldn't improve on the score in a high tempo, occasionally bad-tempered middle period.

But neither could Coventry, who started the night as the League's third most potent scorers, find a way past a well-marshalled defence.

But Blaze did exactly that two minutes into the last session: former Steeler winger Luke Ferrara, making it 2-1, assisted by Andrew Johnston.

It was a lucky goal, but Coventry seemed they were back in it.

That is, until d-man Marek Troncinsky, unassisted, celebrated his new season-long deal with Sheffield's third goal.

Tanner Eberle ensured the win at 50:50 poking in his first goal after seven blank games.

DeLuca struck the iron, but the points were in the bag.

*Great Britain will take on Team Canada, silver medallists in last year's World Championships, in a friendly at Nottingham Arena on May 5.

The game will serve as a warm-up for next year's World Championships in Switzerland.

GB were beaten 8-0 by Canada in Kosice, this Summer.