STEELERS' player-assistant coach Doug Sheppard today admitted the side had yet to reach its full potential - but insisted that changes in personnel were not merited.
Sheffield, having lost at runaway leaders Coventry Blaze on Sunday, will now need to pull something special out of the bag if they are going to challenge the Midlanders for the league championship.
With Steelers having lost almost a third of their league games, and Coventry yet to lose at all, some believe new blood may be required at the Arena.
Coventry have made a change, (David Vychodil replaced by KC Timmons,) despite sitting pretty at the top.
Sheppard insists: "Coventry were forced to make a change otherwise I don't think they would have done anything, with the type of run they are on.
"Matty (coach Dave Matsos) and I both believe we have the team in here right now to compete for the league title. Coventry getting off to their quick start might be because they retained so many players and we had a lot of new guys and we are just starting to get going."
Sheppard said Sheffield's play was improving each week: "There is a great chance we can catch Coventry. There's 40 games left and a lot of hockey to play if we can get on a run.
"Coventry can't keep this up, but if they do it would be tough to catch them."
Asked about the need for consistency, Sheppard said: "Maybe we have under-achieved a little bit, we're not off to a bad start but there is room for improvement. I think we can play a little better."
Sheppard acknowledged that Power Play units had "struggled at times this year."
He emphasised the need to get back to basics; "shots to the net getting, hungry round the net, the puck and feet have to be moving all the times."
Sheppard also said improvements were needed in all-round team defence, with the accent on "getting everybody on the same page and limiting our mistakes.
"We made a couple of mistakes in Coventry and they are the type of team to bury every chanc,e" he added.
Offensively there is room for improvement, he said, but pointed out the side had put six past Manchester and two at Coventry: "A Championship is won on defence. And we have guys to score the goals."
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The full article contains 420 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.
