Sheffield Steelers 1-2 Coventry Blaze

Sheffield missing Les Millie, Coventry missing Adam Calder.

Blaze always had that little bit more throughout this game, prepared to do whatever it takes to win the game. That determination saw them snatch a late winner, winning a right wing face-off and a few slick passes later Joel Poirier had the puck in the net from point-blank range (57:34). Tough on Sheffield who produced another gutsy performance under new coach Paul Heavey.

The tired home side raised their game a notch and forced man of the match Jody Lehman into 5 further saves in that final 2 mins 26 seconds, lifting goalie Jayme Platt with one minute left, but Lehman was not to be beaten.

Steelers had opened the scoring when captain Dion Darling popped up at the back post to force the puck home just as Dan Carlson's slashing penalty ended (16:08). And Coventry's captain Ashley Tait leveled after a long pass released Jozef Lukac in alone. Platt saved the initial shot but Tait won the race to the puck for an easy strike (24:59).

Andre Payette was mixing it up as early as 16 seconds into the game, clashing with Mike Peron for an early Sheffield powerplay. And in a fractious opening session Sheffield had three powerplay chances to score, Darling making the last of them count.

By that stage Payette and Darling had gone toe-to-toe behind the Sheffield net for double roughing minors, with Wade Belak and Mike Peron clashing within a minute of the restart. Lukac hit Platt's left post from the right wing soon after.

Payette went for Darling again with less than 2 minutes left in the period and this time took a 5+game penalty to Darling's 4 minutes.

Coventry started the second period the stronger with Neal Martin, Doug Schueller and Chris McNamara all testing Platt. Sheffield were pushing up when Blaze intercepted a pass and Lukac was away, Tait providing the finish.

Gavin Farrand broke down the right but his pass inside just evaded Ben Bliss. Belak thumped Farrand behind the play and the home side were back on the powerplay. Gerad Adams drove the net and Mike Peron and Dave Cousineau both had shots turned aside.

With Erik Anderson serving a holding penalty, McNamara deflected a great chance over the bar from 8 feet. But Belak was back in the box after a checking to the head call, though a tiring home side struggled to make the man advantage count.

Chances were coming at both ends, Mike Peron coming nearest when he drove the net from the right but Lehman stood tall.

With 2 minutes remaining Peron was again in the thick of it. First he broke down the right and his pass inside was met by Anderson, but the shot went wide. Then he robbed the Coventry defence 10 feet from the net, went to the goal and pulled a great deke inside only to fail to get his shot away as the Blaze defence recovered.

Penalties to Anderson and Jeff Christian either side of the second interval gave Blaze 50 seconds of two man advantage, but they failed to get a shot on target.

Blaze had the better of the next 5 minutes, before Mark Dutiaume skated to the net, but Lehman pulled a good stop. Mike Peron went on a mazey skate through the middle but his shot just went wide, then Erik Anderson broke through down the right. His pass across to Gerad Adams was superbly poke-checked away by Lehman. Just 35 seconds later Poirier bagged the winner.