Sheffield Steelers take valuable point in Coventry to join Cardiff Devils at league summit
Sheffield Steelers played out a 3-3 draw with Coventry Blaze on Sunday before losing in the shoot-out
Sheffield Steelers moved level with Cardiff Devils at the top of the Elite League standings after taking a valuable point from a 3-3 draw in Coventry.
The Blaze claimed the extra point in the penalty shootout, but Sheffield’s point was enough to take them onto 11 points, alongside Cardiff at the league summit.
Aaron Fox’s side had made an excellent start at the Skydome, racing into a 2-0 first-period lead through Mikko Juusola and Evan Jasper.
Coventry responded with three unanswered goals to turn the game around, but Brandon Whistle levelled in the second period to make it 3-3.
Neither side could find a breakthrough in a scoreless third period, and the game remained tied through overtime.
The Steelers then went to a penalty shootout, with Mitchell Balmas converting for Sheffield.
Olivier Archambault, Adam Rockwood, Juusola and Ryan Tait were unable to score, while Griffin Ness and William Boysen converted for Coventry to secure the extra point.
Despite the shootout defeat, Sheffield returned home with an important league point after a closely fought contest.
The Steelers had started strongly, Juusola opening the scoring after 5:25 before Jasper doubled the advantage just over six minutes later.
Coventry hit back through Jaxson Ezman and Andrew Nielsen to make it 2-2 before the first intermission.
Ness then gave the Blaze their first lead of the night in the second period, only for Whistle to respond at 34:04.
From that point, neither side could find the decisive goal.
Sheffield outshot Coventry 36-32 overall and also created the only two shots of overtime, but were unable to find a way past Blaze goaltender Sisu Heikkeri.
The point takes the Steelers level with Cardiff on 11 points at the top of the standings, maintaining their strong start to the league campaign.