Steelers boss Finnerty braced for Blaze backlash

The Sheffield Steelers’ player-coach takes his team into fourth-placed Coventry for tonight’s live televised game just five days after seeing his players beat Paul Thompson’s side for the fourth time this season in a 6-3 triumph at the Motorpoint Arena.

Tonight’s game at the Skydome Arena marks the first of a three-game road trip for third-placed Steelers which tomorrow sees them head to Scotland to take on bottom club Fife Flyers, followed by a first visit of the season to Edinburgh Capitals on Sunday.

But it’s in Coventry where Finnerty anticipates the toughest test, with the Blaze having lost only two of their last 10 games, a run which came soon after the West Midlands club made public its off-ice financial struggles, a situation which saw Steelers pick up forward Luke Fulghum, who was reluctantly released by Blaze in order to help balance the books.

Former Great Britain head coach Thompson has guided his side to wins over both leaders Belfast Giants and second-placed Nottingham Panthers this season – the latter three times – and while they remain an outside bet to reclaim the regular season title they last won in 2010, Finnerty says it would be foolish to underestimate the four-time champions.

“We probably caught them at the right time last week,” said Finnerty. “They were pretty tired and had had quite a few games up to that point, but we’re expecting a bit more of a battle this time.

“I think their publicised off-ice problems have made their team come together a bit more as they’ve realised that they’re fighting to stay on the ice.

“They are a proud team and are run pretty professionally and are still right in with a shot at the league title - they are certainly not out of it.

“They keep coming and coming at you, that’s what you expect from a Paul Thompson team. They have had some success against the top teams already so we need to be ready to play or we’re going to be in for a long, long night.”

Forward Neil Clark will once again be the player to sit out on the sidelines as Finnerty sticks to his principle of not changing a winning team.

While unfortunate for Clark – who has 11 goals and 11 assists this campaign after a career-high points tally last season – it means much more will be expected from Steelers’ defensive core which has come in for increased criticism lately, particularly after the 5-1 drubbing at Nottingham on December 27.

Finnerty is keen for his defencemen to be physically stronger with particular focus being paid to that aspect of their game in training over the last two weeks.

“It’s common knowledge that I’ve got questions about my defence and I question whether we are strong enough back there,” said Finnerty.

“It’s kind of like a shot across the bows for those guys to pick it up. We’re always looking to improve the team - we’re not threatening anybody’s jobs as such - but as a club we demand success from the top down and nobody can really relax or afford to get too comfortable.”