More direct approach could pay dividends for Sheffield Steelers against bogey team Edinburgh Capitals

Summer signing Plante has missed the last 11 games injured but may, said Thompson, be fit to play as early as this weekend.

Before then, replacement Marek Pinc is expected to get the start for tonight’s Ice Sheffield clash with Edinburgh (7.30pm), who have beaten the Steelers in both previous meetings this season – a sequence Thompson is keen to see end.

“There have been facets of our game that have been very poor against Edinburgh,” said Thompson. “They are a team who don’t mind soaking up pressure and wait for you to force a play and then they’ll jump on you. In terms of odd-man rushes, they are better than any team we have played all season.”

Over the two previous meetings, Steelers have outshot the Capitals 102-55, but only taken a single point after a 5-4 shoot-out loss at home in October.

“We need to be more clinical in front of the net,” said Thompson.

“Sometimes we overplay it a little bit and we’ve talked about that a lot as a group. We want to play a more direct game – particularly against a team like this.”