ROB Dowd refused to get carried away today after his hat-trick led Steelers to a win over their arch-rivals, in front of nearly 6,500 fans at the Arena last night, that looked unlikely for half the match
At 3-1 down, after losing the previous night, the omens seemed bleak.
But Dowd's goal and all-round speed and eye for the net showed Steelers the way back. And once they'd found Rob's route to goal, they never looked back. The former Scimitars' forward, just turned 20, doesn't regard himself as the hero.
"It just seemed to fall for me, but the whole team pulled together. The team battled through as a unit."
Click on the green video icon to see match highlights.Asked if he'd ever dreamed of scoring a hat-trick against Steelers' big rivals he said: "I liked to think it would happen, but I couldn't see it."
The touchpaper was lit with a fight on the boards at 10.01, Ryan Finnerty flying at Bruce Richardson. But Panthers made the most of a 5-on-3 penalty, scoring 36 seconds into it, through Johan Molan.
Sheffield hadn't been sharp in the slot, yet they did level at 25.22, Jonathan Phillips scoring his second of the weekend.
But the game seemed to swing further towards Nottingham's PP specialists as they scored their second 5-on-3 at through Kevin Bergin.
Hear Bob Westerdale's full post-match interview with Robert Dowd.Corey Neilsen, who had been involved in some heated dialogue with Finnerty, assisted on that and scored himself on another PP goal at 30.44.
Midway point, 1-3 down and some Arena fans already writing off the team. Dave Matsos, the coach, didn't. And when Dan Tessier took a penalty Dowd scored low through traffic at the near post. It was the start of the revival.
Steelers stepped up a gear, the momentum swung their way, with Dowd firing wide and Scott Basiuk and Mark Thomas getting big hits in.
Joey Talbot built on the surging confidence with a game tying 3-3 goal and then the biggest gate for years rose to acclaim Dowd again as he backhanded a delightful go-ahead goal for the home side.
Panthers started the last session by firing in as many shots on goal as they could, but Steelers were patient, strong and conservative.
Their reward for concentrated hockey came at 57.07 when Dowd's hat-trick.
And dreadful defending and Jeff Legue's drive of the net gave Talbot and Sheffield a glorious sixth.
On Saturday, Steelers went into a rampant Belfast Giants' rink knowing only their best form would prise out a result.
Sadly, they were outshot 45-33 and crashed 5-2. Sheffield will have to get their skates on to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup.
A 5 on 3 power-play goal from Tyler Howells opened the scoring at 7.08.
Andrew Martin made it 2-0 at 9.01 although Steelers had their own PP success at 10.17 thanks to skipper Jonathan Phillips.
But there was no stopping Giants with second period markers from Paul Deniset making it 3-1 at 24.13 and then Bobby Robins adding another at 31.36.
While Nathan Gillies at last found his first goal of the season, Giants' Deniset struck again and the game was over in the 38th-minute. Gillies' personal joy was ended by elbow injury.
If it turns out to be serious, Steelers have already found a replacement on standby in North America.
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