Sheffield Steelers 4-2 Coventry Blaze

Coventry without goalie Trevor Koenig, James Young covers as back-up.

4143 saw Sheffield edge their way to a win that should have been more comfortable as visitors Blaze made them work hard all the way.

Young Steve Fone turned aside shots from Dan Tessier and Ryan Finnerty, but the second rebound was squeezed home at his left post by Jonathon Phillips (59 seconds). But when Shane Johnson took a high sticks penalty, Reid Simonton crashed home the rebound from Adam Calder's shot (2:49). Shawn Maltby got away down the left and picked out Finnerty who fired into the roof of the net (9:45). Calder almost levelled 4 minutes later but his shot pinged off the bar. Phillips knew just how he felt when his shot came back off the inside of Fone's right post.

Fone turned aside 20 shots during that hectic opening period, but had just 7 to face in a middle session whilst Coventry made Jody Lehman work. Barrie Moore's intelligent shot was sticked aside by Lehman just as Ashley Tait arrived at the net, but somehow Lehman made the save. Two minutes later a sweet passing move found Finnerty at the back door but Fone threw himself at the puck and turned the chance aside.

However 4 minutes later Fone could do nothing about a left wing shot from Tessier that ultimately won the game (34:55).

Lehman made a poke check at full length to deny Dan Carlson 12 seconds from the buzzer, Vez Sacratini taking a hooking penalty for easing the up the Blaze forward.

Early in the final session with the sides skating 4-on-4, Blaze bagged the goal they had threatened for so long. Rumun Ndur lobbed home a rebound following Simonton's fierce shot (43:26). Blaze piled on the pressure but that man Tessier restored the 2 goal lead (48:22) to ease Steelers' nerves.

Penalties quickly followed on Calder (slashng) and Tessier (hooking). Neal Martin broke through but was denied close-in. Sheffield swept down the other end and Jason Hewitt at Fone's right post intelligently laid the puck back to Scott Ricci who blasted into Fone's midrift, and a golden chance was gone.

Forty seconds later Phil Hill headed to the box for slashing to give Blaze 39 seconds of 5-on-3. Calder hit a rocket from inside the left circle but Lehman made the save and somehow froze the loose puck with 2 forwards hacking for it. Seconds later a Simonton shot produced a similar scramble and Blaze believed they had scored but ref Nigel Boniface washed the effort out. Blaze took a bench penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct in the protests that followed.

Lehman stood tall for the remaining 8 minutes of the game and Blaze were unable to lift Fone for the extra skater until 25 seconds remained.