Steelers seek first home win against rival Panthers

Three times the Steelers have entered the National Ice Centre this season, three times they have come back up the M1 smarting from defeat.

Nottingham still hold the advantage in the head-to-head series between the two sides, having won five of the eight meetings, but a 4-2 success for the Steelers on home ice last weekend will see them head south in buoyant mood.

Second-placed Steelers hold a two-point advantage over the Panthers, who sit immediately below them in the table. The South Yorkshire club remain three points adrift of leaders Braehead Clan, but with a game in hand.

“I think getting the win against them last time out is an advantage for us and we needed that,” said Adams.

“We’ve played well in that building at times.

“To go into their rink wil just be like any other game against them.

“We’ve got to compete at a very high level and just make sure that the puck keeps going north.”

Like Steelers, Hull Stingrays are limited to the one game this weekend, but it’s a big one with regard to who finishes sixth in the overall league standings.

Fife Flyers currently occupy that spot, but the Stingrays welcome their Scottish rivals to Hull only two points behind and with four games in hand, picking up a valuable point in a 3-2 shoot-out defeat at Braehead Clan.

“It is an important time of the year and we are playing well so hopefully we can keep the momentum going,” said Hull’s Canadian forward Cory Tanaka.

“We have lost our last two at home to Fife so we need a better showing. We just need to play our game and take it from there.”