Sheffield Steeldogs v Telford Tigers: Slava Koulikov aware of threat posed by rivals
BASED on form alone, Sheffield Steeldogs head into Friday night's Ice Sheffield clash with Telford Tigers as firm favourites.
But as they found out to their cost only last month, Tom Watkins’ team should not be underestimated.
On a weekend which also brings a derby trip to Hull Seahawks on Saturday, The Steeldogs’ aim of extending their NIHL National six-game winning streak – one which has left them second in the table and two points off leaders Swindon Wildcats – will be sorely tested.
The Steeldogs – now five points clear of third-placed defending champions Leeds Knights – have got the better of Telford twice on the road this season, the second time an emphatic 8-2 midweek win on October 29.
But the Tigers went some way to evening the score when they visited South Yorkshire two weeks later when goals from Harry Ferguson earned them a 2-1 win.
Since then, the Steeldogs have lost just once in eight games, another 2-1 home loss – this time in overtime – to Romford Raiders.
The last six games have brought nothing but success for the Steeldogs, meaning head coach Koulikov boasts a very confident group going into Friday’s clash – although there is little danger of that extending into over-confidence.
“There are a lot of good things with the boys at the moment,” said Koulikov. “They are playing some really good hockey and with every win you build more confidence.
“They know how to approach games and they have learned how to handle certain situations in the last three or four weeks.
“That confidence from having so many wins then shows in the last third of the ice - so there have been a lot of positives but, at the same time we always want to improve and we speak a lot about the little details.”
Telford – sat seventh in the standings – come into the game having won three of their last four, the most recent success being a 7-4 home win over Basingstoke Bison.
Koulikov believes he is hosting a team who, having followed a promising start to the season with a slight dip, seem to be finding good form again.
“Telford have depth, they have quality and they have a dangerous team,” added Koulikov.
"They’ve added one or two players to their roster, Finley Howells is back there now for example, and I think they were missing an import for the last two-three weeks and that obviously hurts a team when you are missing 25 per cent of your imports, it makes a big difference.
"They have a good coach with a great structure and, in this league, you can never take any team lightly.”