Ice Hockey: Steelers salvage point from defeat

Sheffield Steelers, the Superleague champions, gained a valuable point despite a 4-3 defeat to London Knights at the Docklands Arena on Sunday to go three points clear of their rivals for a place in the play-off semi-finals, Bracknell Bees, who lost by the same margin at home to Nottingham Panthers.

Steelers took a 2-0 first-period lead through Brent Bobyck, who opened the scoring after just 55 seconds, and Kent Simpson (powerplay). Dennis Maxwell, who is enjoying a productive post-season, pulled one back and Mo Mansi levelled the score.

Sheffield went ahead again, only for Ed Patterson to tie the scores once more on the powerplay, after the Steelers netminder, Joel Laing, had been handed a minor slashing penalty, before Sean Blanchard sealed a record- equalling fifth successive home victory for London with an empty-net winner.

Nottingham bounced back from their 7-2 mauling by Belfast Giants on Saturday to condemn Bracknell to their 10th straight defeat. Lee Jinman and Marc Hussey (powerplay) gave them a two-goal lead but Brad Peddle clawed one back. Greg Hadden (powerplay) and the former Bee Mark Cadotte restored Panthers' two-goal cushion. Dan Ceman cut the deficit again, but Bracknell could not muster an equaliser.