Disastrous road trip for Thommo's men: Coventry Blaze 5-1 Sheffield Steelers

The team boss has shown no signs of making changes to his side so far - but he has a track record of making radical decisions if things are not working out.

A single goal with six minutes left was all that stopped his side from being shut out twice in a week.

Steelers, who had ben outshot by the same opposition yet won 5-2 the previous night, were immediately under the cosh at the Skydome.

Still without injured duo Scott Aarssen or Jonas Westerling, Sheffield conceded three times in the first nine minutes 36 seconds - a collapse which brought earlier season games against Nottingham Panthers and Belfast Giants to mind.

All three were even-handed efforts, started at 6;27 by Adam Courchaine’s tip in after the home side had hit the post.

Eight five seconds later Marc-Olivier Vallerand added another, followed swiftly by Ben Lake, who had a big section of the net to aim at.

Paul Thompson had administered a few hidings when he was coach at Coventry, but now he was facing one in Steelers’ colours. He called a Time Out to see if he could trigger some organisation at the back and pressure up front.

Ex Blaze winger Matt Marquartd, on target the night before, put a puck on the post as Sheffield sought a way back in.

When the second period started Levi Nelson was on the end of a big hit from Danick Paquette - a player that has not exactly endeared himself to the visitors in the past.

Steelers had to expend energy with penalties called against Jonathan Phillips and Ben O’Connor.

And at a time when they most needed a goal, they conceded Paquette making himself even more unpopular

Just to round things off, Nelson was handed a ten minute misconduct.

So now Steelers needed to score at least four in the last session, no small task against any Elite League opposition.

Coventry, who put eight past Steelers in a pre-season friendly, were stopped from smashing another in by a superb Ervins Mustukovs save at the start of the third period.

But a Gustav Ahnelov tripping penalty gave Steelers a chance to show their firepower. Sadly, it exploded in their faces, with Ryan Dingle becoming the fifth Coventry man to find the net, this time short handed and unassisted, at 45:26

John Armstrong restored a little dignity with his third goal in three games at 53;20, Jonathan Phillips and Marquardt assisting.