Steelers’ focus is solely on next game

ICE HOCKEY: Jonathan Phillips insists Sheffield Steelers have come out of the traditionally hectic festive period in good spirits as they turn towards the “business end” of the season.

In all, the Steelers played eight games in 17 gruelling days, their most notable setbacks coming in the shape of two defeats in the Christmas double-header against Nottingham Panthers.

A point was also dropped on Saturday night in an overtime defeat at second-placed Belfast Giants, but a 4-1 victory against the same opponents the following night made it a positive weekend overall for Paul Thompson’s side.

The Steelers have games in hand on both Belfast and leaders Cardiff Devils and use one of them up tonight against Edinburgh Capitals at Ice Sheffield.

Steelers’ captain Phillips believes that having just passed the halfway point of the Elite League campaign, the Steelers are well-positioned for a tilt at landing a third straight title.

“We are coming to the business end of the season,” said Phillips. “We’re just over halfway through, but we’ve come out of the Christmas and New Year period a confident bunch.

“We can’t worry too much about how many games in hand we have or how many points we’re behind the top two as it can be a distraction.

“All we can do is focus on the team up next against us and deal with that challenge and then move on to the next one.”

Edinburgh arrive in Sheffield on the back of a 6-0 defeat to Dundee Stars on Sunday night.