The game began in difficult fashion for the Steeldogs, who conceded on the power play just 84 seconds in. Finley Bradon opened the scoring for Leeds, converting with the man advantage after an early Sheffield penalty. The hosts responded well, however, and levelled the contest at 5:07 when Walker Sommer finished a smart passing move, assisted by Bair Gendunov and Jonathan Kirk.
Momentum briefly swung Sheffield’s way midway through the period when another Leeds penalty handed the Steeldogs a power-play opportunity. Nathan Ripley made it count at 13:06, firing home from close range with assists from Jonathan Philips and CJ Garcia, giving the hosts a 2–1 lead.
Discipline proved costly once again before the first intermission. Leeds struck twice in the closing minutes of the period, Liam Peyton converting on the power play at 18:05 to level the scores, ensuring the teams headed into the break locked at 2–2.
The second period swung the game in Leeds’ favour. Matthew Bissonnette put the Knights ahead at 30:46, finishing a well-worked attack to make it 3–2. Sheffield pushed for a response but struggled to generate sustained pressure against a well-organised Leeds defence.
Any hopes of a late comeback were dented early in the third period when Bissonnette struck again at 52:05, extending the Knights’ lead to two. Despite Sheffield’s efforts and a late decision to pull the netminder, the Steeldogs were unable to find a way back into the game.
