VIDEO: Steelers in the boxseat for runners-up spot

Acting player-coach Steven Goertzen missed out on an impressive 6-3 win for the Steelers at Braehead Clan on Saturday night, but was on bench duty 24 hours later – for probably the last time this season – as the Steelers suffered a 3-1 reverse at home to Nottingham, their main rivals to finish second behind runaway league champions Belfast Giants, who are a remarkable 24 points clear at the top of the overall standings.

With nine games remaining, the South Yorkshire club have a two-point advantage over their East Midland foes and can double that by defeating Nottingham at the National Ice Centre next Saturday – the final meeting of 12 this season between the great rivals.

Playing in their fourth game in six nights, the Steelers – who are expected to announce went ahead through Robert Dowd at 10.19 at the Motorpoint Arena, but that was to prove as good as it got for the home side.

The Panthers were level before the end of the first period through Lynn Loyns’s 17th-minute strike and what proved to be the game-winning goal came early in the second period through Leigh Salters.

The Steelers were still in with a shout of claiming at least a point until their former forward Robert Farmer - who had earlier dropped the gloves with Jason Hewitt – made sure of both points for Nottingham with an empty-net strike at 59.10.

The night before in Glasgow, it was an electric start for home side Braehead when former Steeler Matt Towe slotted home after only 49 seconds, with Ed McGrane adding a second at 3.21.

Steelers’ first powerplay opportunity saw them get on the board through Chris Blight at 6.36.

Dowd levelled at 10.18, only for McGrane to grab his second to edge Ryan Finnerty’s side ahead again at 11.59.

But three unanswered goals from the Steelers in the second period effectively settled the tie.

Dowd grabbed his second at 21.33 and, with Clan suffering an injury to defenceman Mario Larocque, Steelers took control.

Blight grabbed his second at 36.27 and Jeff Legue got on the end of a swift move to make it 5-3 at 38.21. When Gord Baldwin extended the Steelers lead after only 2.42 of the third period it was effectively game over and Steelers were able to clinch their first win in six on the road.

After a mixed weekend, Goertzen said he was pleased with the effort shown by his players, but could not commit to when he might rejoin them on the ice after spending most of last week resting after sustaining a nasty concussion against Cardiff Devils nine days ago.

Sunday night’s defeat could prove to be his last appearance behind the bench with the Steelers expected to announce a successor – initially until the end of the season – later this week. Former Steelers’ defenceman and ex-Cardiff Devils coach Gerad Adams is regarded as the most likely candidate to come in.

“We had a clot of chances (against Nottingham) but just couldn’t find the back of the net,” said Goertzen.

“You have to give the guys credit, they battled hard and it has been a long, long week – probably the toughest of the year.

“It is frustrating because you want to win and you’ve got a lot of guys who are dejected in there because we didn’t win. But if you put that amount of effort in every night you are going to win your fair share of games.”

Goertzen admitted to enjoying his time behind the bench, but was desperate to return to playing as soon as possible, although when that might be is anybody’s guess at the moment.

“I’m taking things day by day at the moment,” he added. “I’m not saying that I didn’t enjoy it on the bench, but I still have that passion to be on the ice with the players. It’s tough being away from that and I know they had a hard schedule this week.

“I think it’s a little bit early to start talking about return dates – I’m just trying to take it slow right now. I want to get back as soon as I can and help all the guys out but, at the same time, it has got to be right.”