The Sheffield Steelers are back to winning ways after a convincing 4-1 win over the Coventry Blaze on home ice.
Their quality was asserted in less than four minutes, with Mitchell Balmas angling a wrist shot into the Blaze net from long-range after Dominic Cormier found him in acres of space in the opposition zone.
The goal came on the power play, and this man advantage was used well, stretching the four Coventry players and opening a gap on the left-hand side after some good play on the boards.
Mikko Juusola got the second assist for the first, and his impact continued into the second period.
Just 45 seconds in, Colton Saucerman fired one towards Taran Kozun from the blue line, with Juusola’s expertly-executed screen paying dividends. He tipped the puck past the netminder and ensured that the lead was extended.
Any chance of the Blaze making this period their own had been extinguished almost immediately! 2-0!
A bizarre two ‘delay of game’ calls in quick succession gave the away side a 5-on-3 powerplay midway through the game, and they took the opportunity, with Blake Thompson’s screened effort cutting the deficit in half.
Three further penalties late on in the period gave the Steelers a 4-on-3 powerplay, and with 32 seconds to go, Vallerand made it 3-1 from wide-right with a well-placed finish to bookend the middle 20.
Brett Neumann was back from injury, and on his return to Sheffield ice, he scored after a piece of individual magic, driving through neutral ice alone and waiting before firing it top shelf past a helpless Kozun. Welcome home, Brett: 4-1.
Goals from today's 4-1 win against the @covblazehockey pic.twitter.com/zMeAMDKCfa
— X-Sheffield Steelers (@steelershockey) February 25, 2024
And that’s how it ended: the Steelers remain 12 points ahead of second-place Belfast and will hope to continue their form against the Manchester Storm at the Sheffield Arena on Saturday.
Final score: Sheffield Steelers 4-1 Coventry Blaze
GOALS:
Steelers: #92 Mitchell Balmas, from #58 Dominic Cormier and #14 Patrick Watling at 03:38 PP
#63 Mikko Juusola from #23 Colton Saucerman and #65 Brien Diffley at 20:45
#88 Marc-Olivier Vallerand, from #92 Mitchell Balmas and #58 Dominic Cormier at 39:28
#25 Brett Neumann from #88 Marc-Olivier Vallerand at 45:05
Blaze: #44 Blake Thompson, from #41 John Curran at 30:42 PP
#88 Marc-Olivier Vallerand from #92 Mitchell Balmas and #12 Daniel Ciampini at 50:02 (PP)
Featured Image Credit: @steelershockey via X