Steelers win to set up possible title on home ice

Photo: Panthers Images

Sheffield Steelers got the two points they needed on Retro Night in Nottingham, beating to Panthers 4-2, to set up the possibility of winning the league title on home ice on Sunday.

Rok Stojanovič pulled off the game's first big save early on when a wonderful Marc-Olivier Vallerand dangle saw him through, but the Slovene got across his crease to keep the game scoreless. The Panthers had a good chance at the back post to open the scoring but couldn't connect, however they did go ahead - an excellent Anthony Luciani pass found Alexander Lunsjo at the far side, and he beat Matt Greenfield high into the very corner of the net with 10:03 played.

Dominic Cormier tied the game just 23 seconds into period two when his shot from the wing snuck through Stojanovič and squirmed over the line. Mitchell Balmas then almost put the Steelers ahead of a repeat play, but this time the puck trickled onto the side-netting. The Panthers were back ahead when Otto Nieminen found Jordan Kelsall in space and the Nottingham-both forward finished excellently into Greenfield's net. Stojanovič made a good pad save to keep the Panthers ahead, but the Steelers' pressure eventually told when a Colton Saucerman shot that went through traffic at 32:23 - possibly taking a deflection in front.

1:52 into period three, the Steelers took their first lead of the game through Balmas' nice finish, and would not look back from there. A poor turnover in the Panthers zone set up Josh Nicholls for a finish in the slot with 8:15 to play that put the visitors two ahead, where the scoreline ultimately stayed.

A win on Sunday will see the Steelers lift the league title this season, though other results could also help them do it if they can't beat Guildford.