Sheffield Steelers 2-3 Coventry Blaze

Stevie Duncombe returns for Sheffield, Jeff Hutchins plays for Coventry but Marc Lefebvre did not dress.

3518 saw Coventry take their chances to secure the points as Sheffield fail to win at home for the third successive game and have just one win from the last 5 games. Player-coach Dennis Maxwell got both Sheffield goals but Mark Dutiaume failed to ice for the last 20 minutes. The sides meet tomorrow in Coventry.

Andreas Moborg got away down the right and fired into the far top corner with Coventry's first shot of the game (4:26), after Sheffield had peppered Martin Klempa's net whilst Pavol Mihalik sat a slashing penalty. Coventry then had the better of the opening period with Jody Lehman kept busy. Lehman blanked a first-time shot from Jeff Hutchins halfway through. A minute later he pulled a triple save as Moborg shot from the right, Barrie Moore fired in the rebound and Moborg had another attempt at the near post.

Sheffield were back in the game when Rod Sarich's long pass found Maxwell on Coventry's blue line and he skated in close to level (22:51).

Blaze failed to capitalise on Gavin Farrand's high sticks penalty, Mihalik breaking his stick with their only shot on Lehman.

Halfway through the middle session both sides missed golden opportunities to change the game. Joel Poirier blasted wide from low on the left and Sheffield swept down the other end but Warren Tait gave the puck away from the right wing when it seemed easier to shoot.

Blaze went back in front on another high stick call, this time against Kent Simpson. A neat passing move ended with Evan Cheverie picking out Adam Calder near the left post and he made no mistake (36:19).

Early in the final session Klempa played the puck behind his net to Kent Simpson but the ref called a slashing penalty against the Sheffield player. Jason Robinson did well to rob Dan Welch when well placed, and Lehman turned aside two Cheverie shots from the top of the slot as Sheffield battled to stay in the game.

Simpson emerged from the box to breakaway and was hauled down beyond the Coventry defence. Referee Andy Carson had no hesitation in calling a penalty shot, but also gave a high sticks penalty against Paul Sample. Simpson took the penalty shot himself but Klempa made a comfortable left pad save.

This left Blaze with a 2 minute powerplay though only Moore forced a save from the right point. But Blaze soon extended their lead when Welch intercepted the puck on the right and wristed a shot into the far top corner (48:37).

Just 11 seconds later Maxwell fired across Klempa from low on the right (48:48) to keep the game exciting.

A rash of penalties in the 55th minute saw 64 seconds of 3-on-3 play, but neither keeper had a shot to save. As the penalties became spent Sheffield went on the powerplay and Klempa did well to deny Simpson at point-blank range. On the same play Klempa saved again from Simpson's right wing strike.

Sheffield lifted their goalie with a minute left and called a time-out soon after, but the shots deflected wide as bodies piled up in front of the Coventry goal.