By Stuart Hughes BBC Sport Online

London Knights threw the race for the Superleague title wide open over the weekend with back-to-back victories over league leaders Sheffield Steelers.

Knights followed up their 3-1 win at Sheffield Arena on Saturday evening with a 2-1 victory at home 24 hours later. Steelers are now just two points clear at the top of table.

Sheffield had lost just one of their previous 17 home games before Saturday's encounter, whereas London had only a single win from their last 12 visits to the House of Steel.

Knights captain Ian McIntyre traded powerplay goals with Warren Norris either side of the first break.

London defenceman Rich Bronilla then continued his impressive scoring streak with his seventh goal in six games.

In an explosive third period, referee Moray Hanson threw out Sheffield's Scott Levins and Knights Paul Rushforth and Chris Slater.

Once tempers had calmed, Ian McIntyre slotted home his second of the evening with 11 seconds left on the clock.

In-form Lillebjorn

Sheffield's hopes of revenge on Sunday were dashed as London's back-up netminder Ake Lilljebjorn stood firm during three early powerplay chances. Instead, it was the home side that took control.

Sean Blanchard's powerplay goal after 12 minutes was followed at 16:37 by a strike from the slot from Dennis Maxwell.

Steelers out-shot London 13-3 in the second period but Lillebjorn kept them out with a series of fine saves.

Lilljebjorn's hopes of a shutout were dashed, however, when Mark Dutiaume netted from an acute angle with 13 seconds remaining.

Also on Sunday, two late goals saved Nottingham Panthers from their first defeat of the season by bottom-placed Bracknell Bees.

Panthers - unbeaten in their last 12 games against Bees - went behind in the 24th minute through a Darren Hurley powerplay strike.

Nottingham, though, came back strongly in the third period and goals from John Purves and Jason Clarke maintained their clean sweep against Bracknell.