ICE HOCKEY: Title-seeking Steelers steal past Panthers

ICE HOCKEY

Having led the Premier Division for most of the season, Nottingham Panthers tripped up twice, letting Sheffield Steelers take the lead and they need just one point from their last two games to seal the title, writes Steve Pinder.

Panthers - who face Steelers this weekend -opened the scoring against Cardiff Devils to lead the first period 2-1, but they looked distinctly uncomfortable as Devils equalised and then matched them goal for goal, before taking a two-goal lead midway through the game. Cardiff emerged 8-4 winners, inflicting on Panthers' their first home defeat of the season. Panthers then lost to Edinburgh Racers, 8-5.

In contrast, Steelers, having brushed Racers aside 13-5, faced Basingstoke Beavers and were cruising 7-2 with five minutes left when Basingstoke scored three goals for a respectable 7-5 loss.

The other surprise result of the weekend was Peterborough Pirates' 6- 5 win over Durham Wasps.

The following night, Pirates' Anthony Payne provided the winning goal, with 90 seconds of the game remaining, as they squeezed past Bracknell Bees, 10-9.