Sheffield Steelers 7-2 Basingstoke Bison

Sheffield missing Phil Hill (broken foot), Basingstoke missing Doug Sheppard (broken arm).

2518 braved the wintry weather to see Sheffield take control of this one in the opening session with Bison forced to call a time out at 3-0 down. Most of them would doubtless have been warmed by the resurgent Steelers and especially man of the moment Shaun Sutter's 3 goals to add to the 2 he bagged last night. They could journey home through the snow knowing Sheffield had closed to within 3 points of third placed deadly rivals, Nottingham Panthers.

Captain Shawn Maltby re-directed Rod Sarich's powerplay shot (5:56) and Sarich picked out Shaun Sutter at the far post (10:53), again on the powerplay. Sutter then roofed the rebound from Dan Tessier's left wing shot (13:43) but Bison's time out brought a quick response, Kevin Bergin firing across Jody Lehman from the left (14:09).

Warren Tait netted from his third attempt on the same shift (15:29), before Tessier's high sticks penalty gave the visitors 14 seconds of 5-on-3 play. Sheffield got Regan Darby back but captain Blair Manning redirected Duncan Dalmao's shot to keep Bison in touch (19:31).

In the dying seconds of the first period Brad Cruickshank got away up the right but Lehman made a big save. Then Kevin Bergin missed a sitter right on the doorstep just seconds into the middle session and instead Brett Clouthier scored from the right wing (20:53), Curtis Cruickshank getting a piece but not enough.

Bison swapped netminders after that goal, youngster Dan Green coming in. He kept Sheffield at bay for a period before Scott Ricci swept home from the right (42:00) and Sutter did likewise (54:01) to round out the scoring.

Bison threw everything at Sheffield following Dan Green's introduction but Lehman and his defence stood tall. Pick of the saves came on 33 minutes when Bergin picked out Jim Shepherd on the right beyond the far post but Lehman made a sprawling stick save and the chance was gone.

This was Sheffield's fourth succesive win and with just 1 loss on penalty shots in their last 6 games, they go into the second leg of the semi final at Hull on Wednesday full of confidence to add to that 2 goal first leg lead.

Next up here at the Sheffield Arena are Edinburgh, who have won 5 out of 5 against the South Yorkshire side. If Capitals were to make that 6, Steelers announcer Dave Simms will have to sing Flower of Scotland in a kilt centre ice as a result of a bet he made with Capitals manager and ex-Steeler, Scott Neil.