Sheffield Steelers 4-3 Edinburgh Capitals

Sheffield missing Simon Butterworth.

Edinburgh clawed their way back from 2 goals down but Mark Dutiaume bagged his hat-trick marker inside the final 3 minutes to secure the win for Sheffield.

Dave Whistle was on the home bench for the first time this season but he and 3186 saw Edinburgh first jump into an early lead and then tie the game, but the Mark Dutiaume and Kent Simpson show clicked into gear once more, producing their fourth goal of the night.

With the Elite League asking refs to clamp down on interference, Dino Bauba found himself in the penalty box just 14 seconds in after upending Dutiaume. Capitals killed the penalty and then took full advantage of Sheffield's first penalty of the night, Jonas Lennartsson (interference). Tony Hand won the resulting face-off, Martin Cingel found Mike Keisman who blasted home from 12 feet (2:49).

Jody Lehman was the busier keeper before Dennis Maxwell and Keisman clashed at the Edinburgh net. Both headed for the penalty bench with Maxwell taking an extra two minutes, served by Gavin Farrand. Just 15 seconds later Bauba was back in the box, so when Farrand came out Steelers had 15 seconds of powerplay advantage and they made it pay. Farrand parked himself in front of the goal, Simpson found Dutuaume and his first time shot from the right deflected in off Farrand (10:53).

Suddenly Sheffield were flying and after Mike Peron and Ron Shudra forced saves, Dutiaume arrived in front of the net to backhand Simpson's pass home (14:31).

The second session began as the first, with Bauba sitting a penalty after just 30 seconds. Some slick passing found Martin Masa forcing a fine save from the right, but the reprieve was temporary as the move ended with Dutiaume rifling home from 8 feet out (21:31). Chances came fairly evenly with both sides enjoying 3 powerplays, but neither side looked like adding to the score.

Sheffield paid the price for over-confidence in the final session. Mike Sandbeck netted (44:25) and with Sheffield failing to carve out any chances, Cingel popped up 10 feet out in acres of space to level the game. Lehman had no chance with Cingel netting a bullet off the underside of the bar (50:01).

Bauba was back on the penalty bench soon after, but Sheffield failed to add to their powerplay tally. With overtime looking increasingly likely that man Dutiaume went on a trade-mark mazey skate wristing home from 8 feet (57:05), and the home fans found their voices again.

Within a minute Neil Stevenson-Moore was denied from close range. Maxwell's holding penalty with just 42 seconds remaining produced a timeout for the visitors and Martin Kucera was pulled for the extra skater, but Lehman closed the game out denying Keisman and Hand.