ROBERT DOWD may have reached another milestone on Sunday but he is more concerned with the bigger picture at Sheffield Steelers - both in the here and now and in the future.

The Steelers’ captain became the first player to reach 400 Elite League goals across all formats in the 9-0 thrashing of Dundee Stars at the Utilita Arena - one of eight goalscorers on the night.

But it was also a significant night for Wakefield-born Kyle Watson, one of those other seven Steelers’ goalscorers, whose 38th-minute strike made it 5-0 to the Steelers and brought him his first full-time pro goal.

The 25-year-old, who returned to the UK on a two-way with Sheffield Steeldogs last year after eight years in North America, has enjoyed a fine season in NIHL National, posting 47 points - including 24 goals - in just 38 games.

Just for good measure, his fellow two-way forward - Ivan Bjorkly Nordstrom - also got on the scoresheet against the stars, capping off a memorable few days for himself having been part of the Great Britain team competing in the European Cup of Nations in Edinburgh.

For Dowd, there was obvious pleasure at chalking off another milestone, but he has more important interests beyond his own stats.

“It's nice to break these milestones, but I'm focussed on us getting the points tonight," said Dowd after a rampant Steelers’ performance which also brought two goals for Brett Ritchie as well as markers for Mitchell Heard, Mikko Juusola, Evan Jasper and Stephen Harper.

"I'm not one of these people that looks at milestones, the only times I realise I'm close to one is when my social media gets notifications.

400 AND COUNTING: Robert Dowd looks up to the scoreboard at the Utilita Arena after making it 1-0 to Sheffield Steeles against Dundee Stars with his 400th Elite League goal. Picture: Hayley Roberts/Steelers Media

placeholder image — 400 AND COUNTING: Robert Dowd looks up to the scoreboard at the Utilita Arena after making it 1-0 to Sheffield Steeles against Dundee Stars with his 400th Elite League goal. Picture: Hayley Roberts/Steelers Media

“I thought we were fantastic - we set the tone and we’ve hit a really good patch where we have a lot of different players scoring goals.

"It's fantastic for us to have the true pathway to come through into the Steelers. It's starting to pay dividends now as we can see players forging their paths and I'm over the moon for both Kyle and Ivan to have scored."

The result completed a four-point weekend for the Steelers following their 5-2 win at Manchester Storm the previous night, although Sunday night wins for leaders Belfast Giants and second-placed Cardiff Devils meant they weren’t able to make any inroads into those two teams.

Third-placed Nottingham Panthers didn’t play on Sunday, but a point dropped in a 2-1 shootout loss at home to Coventry Blaze the previous evening means the Steelers are now just one point off their fiercest rivals, having played a game more.