Telford Tigers show their steel with weekend victory

Although Czech forward Marek Mikusovic remains sidelined, Michal Pavlu, Miika Kiviranta and Timo Kuuluvainen were all back on the ice following 11th-hour fitness tests as Tigers hit back from a 6-3 home reverse against high-flying Guildford Flames on Saturday to win 2-1 on the road at Sheffield the following day.

Telford visit Coventry tomorrow night for their next English Premier League clash, at MK Lightning (7.30pm). They will host Swindon Wildcats at Telford Ice Rink this Sunday (5.30pm).

Against the Flames, Tigers turned around a four-goal deficit to go with one of levelling, before a couple of late markers saw the points head to Surrey.

By the midway mark it looked like the writing was on the wall as Flames raced to a 4-0 lead, but a power play strike by Nathan Salem spurred the Telford hosts on.

Neat link-up play by Kuuluvainen and Salem saw the impressive Finn halve the visitors' margin. And within minutes of the third-period restart, Tigers' Kiviranta drew the home side closer. The league leaders' experience shone through, however, as they calmed the storm by bagging two goals in the last five minutes to secure victory.

Sunday saw Tigers' first visit to Sheffield – and the first since a slashing incident on Kiviranta marred the teams' match in Telford in October.

Once again the Steeldogs were intimidating and physical, but the Tigers executed a different game plan this time around.

After the first two periods finished goalless, Steeldogs broke the deadlock when Craig Elliot's neat back hand found the top of Declan Ryan's net.

But within seconds of the restart Tigers had levelled when Kiviranta pounced on a rebound from Adam Walker's shot. Spurred on by Kiviranta's retribution, Tigers took the lead five minutes later when, ironically, Andre Payette sat out a slashing penalty. Tigers pounced on their power-play opportunity, with Kuuluvainen converting the extra man advantage into a winning score.

Tigers head coach Tom Watkins said: "On Sunday I told the guys it was all about the application and making sure we did the little things right.

"We made the smart plays when we needed to, took the hits when they came, ignored Sheffield's attempt at intimidation and got on with the game.

"Every guy played well. Our net-minding was strong, we played to our strengths, stuck to our systems and ground out a result.

"It wasn't the prettiest of wins, but I'm happy to have come out of Sheffield with the points."

On Saturday's 6-3 defeat to the Flames, Watkins said: "I was disappointed that at 4-3 we didn't close the game out, as I felt we had the momentum to carry forward. But in fairness to the Flames they showed why they are one of the top teams in the league, and they took their chances very well when they came."