STEELERS may be lagging behind Elite League rivals in terms of scoring goals - but it's stopping them going in the other end that is concerning skipper Jonathan Phillips more.
Sheffield have put 20 away so far, half those notched by leaders Belfast Giants and 15 fewer than Nottingham Panthers.
But says Phillips: "Goals aren't our problem, we will always score them. Maybe not as many as other teams; we are the side that will go somewhere and win 2-1.
"What we need to focus on is being more defensively-minded. We were last year and we are the same team, so we should be this year.
"Yet we have been giving away silly goals. I think it will come good, although we will always have to work hard for a win."
Special teams are still an issue for Steelers.
Sheffield have scored 10 fewer than Belfast and have not scored one short-handed yet. Their overall power-play goal ratio is 19 per cent.
Tomorrow, Steelers are up against the team with the second worst penalty kill, Basingstoke Bison, so improvements will be looked for there.
"It really is important that we improve the power play," said Phillips.
"We seem to get mentally messed up, maybe we are not dealing with pressure well. Nottingham's PP is unbelievable and Coventry Blaze's is always good so we have to get going soon."
Phillips said Steelers might be expected to hammer Hull Stingrays again tonight, following last weekend's 7-3 win at the Arena.
"You never know what will happen against teams like Hull and Basingstoke," he said.
" But I do know that if we lose to them then people will definitely be pressing the panic button!"
Got a view? Add your comment below.What do you think? Post your comments below. READ MORE More Ice HockeyMore rugby leagueMore rugby unionMore boxingSports columnistsAll sport categories The full article contains 324 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.
