Sheffield Steelers 5-1 Coventry Blaze

Both sides at full strength.

A disappointing crowd of just 3132 as the reigning Play-Off Champions hosted the reigning League Champions at the Sheffield Arena. Sheffield produced a huge performance with Ashley Tait bagging 3 goals against his old side who took far too many silly penalties.

After a goalless session dominated by Sheffield, the home side added 3 powerplay goals with Randy Dagenais firing in from the left (22:02). Sheppard teed up Tait to score from close in (31.09) and Tait doubled his tally, breaking in alone to lift the puck high (34:59) with the sides at full strength. Doug Sheppard deflected another Tait shot beyond Perras (37:15) for a four goal middle session.

Tait jumped on a loose puck to add his third (48:09) seconds after he helped kill off an interference penalty on Scott Basiuk. Dan Carlson broke Jody Lehman's shut-out (55:52) squeezing home the rebound from Jonathan Weaver's shot with Rod Sarich and Tait both sitting hooking penalties.

The Blaze coach had warned his side they wouldn't face a speedier, more skilled side all season and his words seemed prophetic as Coventry chased the speedy home side around the big rink, taking a string of penalties for their troubles whilst struggling to create many chances of their own. When was the last time the reigning league champions were limited to just 3 shots in a period?

Joey Talbot came close to breaking the deadlock when his shot from close in on the right hit the inside of the near post just 2 minutes in.

Perras saved two efforts from Tait before Scott Basiuk and Adam Calder dropped the gloves, the Sheffield defenceman taking an extra 2 minute penalty. Blaze were unable to get a single shot on Lehman and when Carlyle Lewis took a charging penalty Jeff Legue was testing Perras at the other end.

Dan Carlson's interference penalty was quickly followed by a slashing minor against Sylvain Deschatelets for 96 seconds of 5 on 3. Perras turned aside 3 shots from the edge of the zone and did well to deny Sheppard close in. Lewis took another penalty on the buzzer to give Sheffield a powerplay to start the middle session.

Another 2 saves were followed by a high stick from Leigh Jamieson and Sheffield had another 14 seconds of 2 man advantage. Lewis had just stepped onto the ice when Dagenais blasted home from the left circle.

Ryan Finnerty's hooking penalty again saw the visitors fail to test Lehman and instead Jason Hewitt was forcing a save at the other end. Deschatalets spotted Lehmnan out of his net but the keeper got back just in time to turn the quick shot aside. Weaver forced another save soon after, but Perras was still the busier keeper.

The rolling pressure brought a hooking penalty against Weaver and, despite making 2 saves, Perras was beaten again when Tait fired home after Sheppard intelligently redirected Legue's shot.

Blaze responded with Calder being blocked in a big scramble in front of the home goal, but Steelers were in no mood to let their visitors back into the game. Hewitt's tripping penalty again saw Blaze struggling to test Lehman, only Carlson forcing a save from close-in.

Back at full strength, Calder was denied from the right wing and as the home side relieved the pressure Tait jumped onto a long clearance to go in alone. He jinked to his right and back-handed the puck home over the keeper's right shoulder. A minute later Hewitt was denied on the doorstep in a scramble and Danny Stewart found himself heading to the box.

Nathan Gillies was denied at close range before Calder raced up the right with Carlson speeding up the centre to get ahead of him. Calder jinked inside and shot but as Lehman made the save Carlson's determination to get there earned a roughing penalty for 63 seconds of 5 on 3. Steelers needed just 19 seconds of it as Legue passed out of the right corner and Tait lashed in another shot with Sheppard deflecting the puck home to seal a remarkable period of hockey.

Blaze began the final session on a powerplay but had just one shot on Lehman from Calder. Sarich's hooking minor found Tait testing Perras again and as Sarich stepped out Corey Leclair finally forced another save. Basiuk's interference penalty produced 16 seconds of 5 on 3. Tait had returned before Lehman was required to make a huge save from Scott Kelman, the big forward popping up at the back door, but his first-time effort found a pad.

Basiuk stepped out of the box to fire in from the left wing and when the puck wasn't properly cleared, Tait collected the puck to skate in and blast high for his third.

From the that point on Blaze finally gained the upper hand, helped by a succession of penalties on the home side. Anothe big save denied Calder with Sarich sitting a hooking penalty and when Tait joined him for 68 seconds of 5 on 3 the visitors called a time-out.

Their first shot at Lehman fell nicely for Carlson to break the shut-out and it might have been more as Lehman had further good saves to make from Weaver and Kelman before Tait returned.

A scramble at the Sheffield net on the final buzzer resulted in roughing penalties to Carlson and Mark Thomas.