Dundee Stars bid to discover more consistency.

Ice hockey: Assistant captain confident Dundee can shock Steelers

Dundee Stars welcome fourth-placed Sheffield Steelers tonight as they look to continue their good form against the league’s top sides.

Omar Pacha’s side have enjoyed some success against the top five sides, beating three of them in the last three weeks – but have also fallen to Conference rivals Braehead Clan and Edinburgh Capitals.

A promising start by Dundee in both games gave them the chance to continue their dominance but certain circumstances in each game cost them dearly.

This is the fourth and final league match between the Stars and Steelers as both teams have met twice in Yorkshire and once in Dundee.

The Steelers claimed two 8-2 victories at Ice Sheffield and Paul Thompson’s men made it three wins for three after a 5-2 win in Dundee.

Sheffield have scored 21 goals against Dundee – who have lost their last three matches – and conceded just six with the Tayside teams’ goals coming from Jimmy Jensen, Joey De Concilys, Brian Hart, Taylor Dickin and a brace from Malcolm Gould.

Stars assistant captain Johan Andersson said: “Consistency has been an issue for us and it’s something we have to look at.

“We work hard in every game, but fail in the small details.

“I’m sure we will improve and I still have confidence in our team. We’ve had injuries for much of the season and you can always look for excuses.

“We play Sheffield on Wednesday and they’ve beaten us heavily twice so far. But I don’t see why we can’t turn it around in that game.

“They are the one of the top teams and of course, we have a chance to win. It’s hockey and anything can happen.”

Dundee’s head coach Omar Pacha is looking for bounce-back performance against the Steelers to get his side back to winning ways.

It’s a 7.30pm face-off at Dundee Ice Arena.

Meanwhile Steelers have picked Stars as their quarter-final opponents in the Challenge Cup.

The Yorkshire side were top seeds in the first major competition of the season and plumped for Stars, who squeezed into the competition on goal difference and were seeded eighth.

Belfast Giants, who won Group B which included Dundee and Fife Flyers, have picked the Kirkcaldy club as their quarter-final opposition.

Milton Keynes Lightning face Nottingham Panther and Cardiff Devils have been paired with Guildford Flames. All ties will be played before January 10.

Dundee Stars assistant captain Johan Andersson predicts his side will improve as the season progresses.