Steelers back on track

Cruikshank: Landmark goal - pic Rik Rayner

Struggling Sheffield Steelers leapfrogged Edinburgh Capitals in the Elite League standings with a comfortable 4-1 victory over Hull Stingrays on Saturday night.

The victory is the defending champions' third on the spin as Dave Matsos' men finally begin to show signs of improvement.

Hull, meanwhile, have now managed just one win from their last 13 games in all competitions.

On the mark for Steelers were Brad Cruikshank - with his 100th career EIHL goal - Matt Hubbauer, Jonathan Phillips and Jeff Legue while Sylvain Cloutier struck a consolation for Stingrays.

Fourth-placed Newcastle Vipers bounced back from their 8-0 battering by Belfast the previous week with a 2-1 overtime triumph against Cardiff Devils at the Metro Arena.

Great Britain star David Longstaff's powerplay strike late in overtime proved the difference after Vipers had let slip the 1-0 lead earlier in the match.

Coventry Blaze moved back on top of the Elite League standings with a 6-3 victory over lowly Edinburgh Capitals.

Luke Fulghum and Jonathan Weaver both chipped in with a brace with the latter gaining his 300th EIHL point when scoring the final goal of the game.

The win was Blaze's fifth in a row while the Capitals dropped into the bottom two.

The other match on Saturday evening saw Belfast Giants continue their imperious away form with a 4-0 victory at title rivals Nottingham Panthers.

Jeff Szwez (2), Colin Shields and Brandon Benedict all found the net to put Steve Thornton's men joint top of the standings.