Ice hockey – Capitals let slip a lead then hit the skids

Elite League: Dundee Stars 2, Sheffield Steelers 7; Edinburgh Capitals 3, Cardiff Devils 5.

Edinburgh Capitals led 2-0 thanks to a neatly-worked goal Mike Cazzola after 24 seconds and a second from Igor Valeyev nine minutes later at Murrayfield.

But Cardiff then claimed four straight goals in 11 second period minutes to take charge.

Indeed, three of the strikes came in just over two minutes deep in the period.

It was Matt Pope who sparked the comeback with a strike after 24 minutes and he netted again after 33 minutes for the Elite League champions.

Patrick Asselin popped in the go-ahead goal 36 seconds after that and former Dundee Stars player Justin Faryna scored the fourth just over a minute later.

Callum Boyd pulled one back with a breakaway goal after 43 points but Drew Paris completed the scoring two minutes later to seal the win.

Capitals are stranded at the bottom of the 12-strong table on six points from 19 fixtures.

On Tayside, Levi Nelson claimed a double as Sheffield Steelers continued their dominance of Dundee Stars so far this season.

The play-off champions led 6-0 after 43 minutes following goals from Robert Dowd, Mark Matheson, Tim Wallace and Colton Fretter plus Nelson’s double.

Malcolm Gould opened Dundee’s account after 46 minutes and Joey de Concilys claimed their second two minutes later but John Armstrong completed the scoring with 1min 22sec left to made it a disappointing night for home fans in a 7-2 defeat.

Sheffield are now third but second-bottom Dundee have 13 points from 19 games and are six behind tenth-placed Coventry Blaze and Braehead Clan who both have 19 points.