Steelers in commanding position after first leg

Photo: Mark Ferris

Sheffield Steelers took a commanding aggregate lead over Manchester Storm in their Quarter-Final first leg in Altrincham on Thursday night.

Storm took an early lead as they looked to build a lead to take with them into Sheffield in a fortnight, but were unable to hold it through to the first intermission. Mike Koral put the home side ahead 6:46 in, when he turned an quickly slapped a Joe Morrow pass over Anthony Morrone's shoulder. 

Robert Dowd tied the game up with one second left in the opening period , blasting a Mitchell Balmas feed pass Evan Weninger on the powerplay.

2:27 into period two, Scott Allen was left alone in the slot to shoot past Weninger off good set-up play from Dowd and give the Steelers the lead, an advantage they doubled on the powerplay two minutes later through Marc-Olivier Vallerand. Only an excellent glove save from Weninger denied Mikko Juusola adding a fourth for the visitors with just over eight minutes left in the middle period.

After Storm failed to take advantage of a Brian Diffley minor penalty early in the third, they were punished when Patrick Watling poked home a Juusola pass in front at 46:59. A fortunate bounce put the puck on Brandon Whistle's stick in front to then make it a 5-1 scoreline with 9:05 to play.

The Steelers will start with a four-goal advantage when the sides meet for the return leg on 20 December.