Sheffield Steelers hold off Fife Flyers fightback to claim win
Sheffield Steelers bounced back from defeat on Saturday night to see off Fife at the Utilita Arena
Sheffield Steelers returned to winning ways with a 6-3 victory over Fife Flyers at the Utilita Arena after surviving a strong second-period comeback from the visitors.
Aaron Fox’s side raced into a 4-0 lead during an outstanding opening period, with goals from Aatu Aarnio, Ryan Tait, Logan Roe and Evan Jasper.
Fife then scored three unanswered goals in the second period to reduce the deficit to one, but Sheffield regained control in the third, with Jasper scoring his second of the game before Olivier Archambault completed the scoring.
The Steelers, looking to respond after Saturday night’s 1-0 defeat in Cardiff, started with real purpose.
Aarnio opened the scoring at 5:43 with a powerful shot high past the Fife goaltender before Tait doubled the advantage following good work from Adam Rockwood.
Sheffield continued to apply pressure and Roe made it 3-0 with an excellent finish into the top corner.
Fife challenged the goal, but the decision on the ice stood and the visitors were left short-handed following the unsuccessful review.
The Steelers quickly took advantage, with Jasper scoring at 15:17 to give Sheffield a commanding four-goal lead before the end of the opening period.
Fife, however, produced a much stronger response after the restart.
Zach Power got the Flyers on the scoreboard with a well-taken finish before Sheffield ran into penalty trouble.
Adam Rockwood was assessed a minor for a face-off violation and, with Roe also called for tripping, the visitors were handed a five-on-three opportunity.
Mika Partanen converted to make it 4-2 before Fife struck again soon afterwards with another shot high past Matt Greenfield.
Suddenly a game Sheffield had appeared to have under complete control was back in the balance at 4-3.
The Steelers steadied themselves through the remainder of the middle period and regained their composure in the third.
There was concern early in the final period when Mikko Juusola was caught by a heavy hit and required treatment on the ice before leaving the game.
No penalty was called on the play.
Sheffield eventually restored their two-goal cushion when Jasper forced the puck home from a scramble around the crease for his second of the afternoon.
Archambault then added the sixth to finally put the contest beyond Fife and secure the two league points.