Sheffield Steelers plan more trouble for down in the dumps Coventry Blaze

Paul Thompson’s Sheffield men have already qualified for the quarter finals of the competition with five wins from seven games.

They wrap up their group obligations against Coventry Blaze, who are in anything but a comfortable position.

Blaze have fizzled out limply so far, they have lost four out of five games, but can still qualify in their remaining three games.

A return to form for Blaze is well overdue, they have lost their last four Cup games - and in September they were put to the sword by Steelers in the Midlands.

But they won’t underestimate the size of the task at the House of Steel.

Despite injuries, the odd defensive lapse and Power Play issues, Steelers have been victorious in seven of their last eight matches, a run which has seen them close in on early Elite League pace setters Cardiff Devils and Nottingham Panthers.

Blaze head coach Danny Stewart was demoralised by a late loss last weekend, saying his side was struggling to score goals, a problem which was heaping pressure on to other areas of the play.

Coventry and Sheffield meet at the Skydome on Sunday, too, but in an Elite League fixture. The teams also met in a friendly on Tuesday, helping raise money for former Blaze star Adam Calder, who has been battling cancer.