Time running out for Steelers to hit back against Panthers

So far, third-placed Panthers have enjoyed 100 per cent success over Dave Matsos's side, the latest win coming on Wednesday night when a 3-1 victory in the second leg of the Challenge Cup semi-final at the National Ice Centre gave them a 7-3 aggregate win.

Saturday night's meeting at Sheffield Arena (7.00) gives Steelers the chance to start building for the end-of-season play-offs the only hope they have of clinching a trophy in what has been a thoroughly disappointing season after the highs of winning the league and play-off titles last year.

Defenceman Mark Thomas said the players were desperate to end Nottingham's stranglehold over them this season and, in doing so, scupper their outside hopes of landing the Elite League title.

"The last thing we want to see is them win the league," said Thomas.

"We have three games left against them where we can stop them winning it - there isn't a bigger incentive to us right now than that."

Steelers take to the road on Sunday to take on title favourites Coventry Blaze – currently leading the Elite League table by five points – where they will come up against former team-mate Brad Cruikshank, who joined the West Midlands club after being released last month to make way for power forward Mie Sgroi.

In four games so far, Cruikshank has contributed two goals and two assists. During his time with Steelers this season, the 30-year-old Canadian winger scored 16 goals and nine assists in 41 games.

Bottom club Hull Stingrays will look to close the gap on Steelers during their weekend double-header against fourth-placed Cardiff Devils.

Both teams have established home dominance over each other so far this season, with Stingrays edging a penalty shoot-out the last time the two sides met in East Yorkshire.

Player-coach Sylvain Cloutier, believes playing at home first on Saturday (5.30) gives his players a slight advantage.

He said: "We have the advantage of waiting for them to get here and then they are on the bus all night and get in late while we get to sleep in our own beds, get on the bus and go get them."

Stingrays travel to South Wales tomorrow looking to avoid a repeat of the 6-0 horrow show they endured in December.