They dominated throughout, but some woeful finishing and miserly Scottish defending handed an unlikely win to a club that had not prepared half as well in pre-season.
Former Scimitar and one-time Steeler Pasi Raitanen was the surprise goaltender for Edinburgh at Sheffield Arena tonight.
He came in to rescue the Scots after their first-string import Michel Robinson failed to pick up his visa in time to play.
But it was Jody Lehman that the home crowd was most interested in.
He conceded from Taylor Christie in the fifth minute.
And then wandered off his line only to be caught out by Doug Christiansen's freak bounce off the boards for 0-2 at 08;44.
Christiansen also hit the post.
Sheffield had countless attacks and face offs in Caps' zone in the middle period but conceded again to Christianen's second PP goal at 29;19.
They outshot them 22-6 in that period, but couldn't unlock the excellent Raitanen, who while looking utterly exhausted, never wilted under the barrage of strikes on his body armour.
The final session featured shot after shot, face off after ace off in Caps' zone.
But all was repelled barring a consolation for Jeff Legue at 52;26.
Steelers coach Dave Matsos said his team had attacked with desperation near the end - but added there was little different he could have asked of them given the final shots ratio of 51-19.