Sheffield Steelers 5 Coventry Blaze 3: Connolly drives Steelers to outright top of the table

Sheffield are two points clear at the top of the EIHL table after an entertaining 5-3 victory over Coventry.
Brendan Connolly scores off the goalie's skate. Pic by Dean WoolleyBrendan Connolly scores off the goalie's skate. Pic by Dean Woolley
Brendan Connolly scores off the goalie's skate. Pic by Dean Woolley

Steelers and Blaze had been tied on points before face off, but Aaron Fox's men came from behind at the Nottingham Ice Centre and ended up worthy victors.

Brendan Connolly was the stand out spectacle of the evening - penalty taker, two-goal scorer with two assists thrown in too.

He is a man on a mission to win the EIHL trophy.

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And if he and his team can avoid discipline problems, they have a very strong chance of achieving that.

Steelers had recorded wins in their previous two match-ups with Blaze. Danny Stewart's team's form was showing improvement, though.

They faced a Sheffield side that had scored only twice in their last game and so coach Fox opted to tinker with the line-up, Robert Dowd going back on the first line with Liam Kirk dropping back.

The first offensive line started well with Dowd and Solder Olden both having shots on in the first minute.

Sheffield Steelers Coach Aaron Fox marshalls the troopsSheffield Steelers Coach Aaron Fox marshalls the troops
Sheffield Steelers Coach Aaron Fox marshalls the troops
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But Tanner Eberle's first contribution was to cross check Luke Ferrara into the board and on the power play Nicolai Bryhnisveen's shot bounced back off the post before Tristan Keck, arguably the most lethal sniper in the tournament, shot high past Curtis Warburton.

Eberele, who hasn't put a foot wrong in this series, failed to connect on a close-range chance. Coventry's luck didn't hold out though and on their second straight penalty kill, they surrendered the lead.

Connolly's drive across the crease ricocheted off goalie Shane Owen's right boot for 1-1 at 9:50.

Josh Waller's solo skate deserved better than striking the upright shortly afterwards.

Matt Myers up close and personal  Pic by Dean WoolleyMatt Myers up close and personal  Pic by Dean Woolley
Matt Myers up close and personal Pic by Dean Woolley
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Sheffield's authority had returned, they were the better passing outfit and a Coventry shot was a rarity.

Steelers easily handled a Blaze power play, the huge stride of Olden threatening on the counter.

Yet they remained tied at the first interval.

Jonathan Phillips sustained a high stick to the face and Steelers web-streaming fans hoped their team would cash in on the 2+2 penalty on Max Krogdahl. It didn't happen.

However, their chances continued thick and fast. Sheffield had five clear opportunities before Matt Myers deflected a Kevin Schulze drive for 2-1. It was Myer's first point for Sheffield.

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A minute later they'd got their third, a turnover gifting a chance to Connolly who roofed the puck expertly.While Ferrara hit Warburton's post, Sheffield thoroughly deserved their two-goal advantage.

But a 5-on-3 power play for Coventry's Janne Laakkonen reduced that lead, 23 seconds into the final period.

Steelers did not learn from the experience, falling to another 5-on-3, with Dowd and Connolly in the box.

Yet oddly, it worked in their favour.

They defended bravely for two minutes and when Connolly sprung out the penalty box, he backhanded to Kirk, for 4-2.

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Connolly was argumentative but irrepressible - assisting on Dowd's goal three minutes later to give Sheffield a three goal margin.

The centreman was in the sin bin again as Keck got his second of the night. But the points were heading up the M1.