Video: Sheffield Steelers' star brimming with Play Off confidence

Fourteen goals in 15 games from Robert Dowd has breathed new confidence into Sheffield Steelers.
Robert Dowd, in the form of his life. Pic: Dean WoolleyRobert Dowd, in the form of his life. Pic: Dean Woolley
Robert Dowd, in the form of his life. Pic: Dean Woolley

The GB winger has been in astonishing scoring form. And his output - including six goals in his last four performances - mean Sheffield can gather momentum as they head to the Play Offs.

Sheffield have just four league games left and Dowd and his team-mates want to build on the form they showed in last Sunday’s 6-2 defeat of champions-elect Cardiff Devils.

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Dowd, who doesn’t keep track of his goal statistics, said of his line: “We started the season really hot. And then we went through a bit of a cold spell and when it is not going for you and you try changing your game and do stuff different because you think it’s you, but it is what it is in any sport. You go through hot spells and cold spells and right now we are riding a hot spell so hopefully we can ride it all the way into the Play Offs.

“Confidence is a massive thing and when you are full of confidence you seem to throw it on net and it goes in. When the whole team is playing confidently we are a heck of a team to play against.”

Steelers scored five against second-choice Devils netminder Thomas Murdy, who came on for injured star Ben Bowns.

But Dowd said: “Their back-up is no shabby goalkeeper himself. He is in the Great Britain set-up, he is a hell of a goalie so it’s not like they put a one-legged goalkeeper in there he’s a heck of a goalkeeper. You can’t take anything away from him.”

Robert Dowd, in the form of his life. Pic: Dean WoolleyRobert Dowd, in the form of his life. Pic: Dean Woolley
Robert Dowd, in the form of his life. Pic: Dean Woolley
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Sheffield travel to second-place Belfast Giants on Friday and Dowd says: “We have to do what we did against Cardiff. When we play solid defensively we have got such good offensive players chances are going to come. We have just got to stop them from scoring. As long as we lock it up at the back, we have a good chance against any team.”

Steelers have some pretty crippling injuries at the moment, but the 28-year-old says that won’t be an excuse.

“When you look around any team around the league, when it comes to the latter end of the season, guys are going to be beat up, it is a long and tough season on your

body.

Robert Dowd, in the form of his life. Pic: Dean WoolleyRobert Dowd, in the form of his life. Pic: Dean Woolley
Robert Dowd, in the form of his life. Pic: Dean Woolley

“We are not the only team to be carrying injuries. There will be other teams carrying bangs. It is just how healthy we can get the guys at the right time. If we can win every game and put ourselves in the best possible position, for the play offs, we can ride a confidence wave into the play offs.”

Dowd added: “It is such a short, little play offs, it is a few games and it’s all over and if you go into that confident and rolling, anything can happen.”