Good news for Steelers with Anthony DeLuca set to return from injury sooner than expected

The fought their way back from 5-3 down with five minutes to go in Coventry Blaze's rink, to secure a 6-5 overtime win on Sunday, preserving their seven-point lead at the top of the Elite League table.

And - perhaps sooner than expected - they will have injured offensive talent Anthony DeLuca back in the line-up.

Coach Aaron Fox said an MRI scan had not found any evidence of the "serious break" that was suspected after colliding heavily with a rink board.

"He is moving around a lot better," said Fox.

"The likely timetable for me is probably to get him ready after the (international) break.

"We could potentially push the envelope and try to get him in next weekend," he said, although the coach added he wasn't sure that was a particularly smart thing to do given the number of fit imports available to him.

The player would benefit from a week's practice so he would be able to come back strong and ready.

“We will see what happens early in the week, he is definitely out for Wednesday (second leg of the Challenge Cup semi final, where they carry a 5-1 lead over Glasgow Clan.) We'll assess that from there."

Fox revealed some details of the problem affecting defenceman Josef Hrabal, too.

"It is a muscle injury so it is also one of those things that we don't want to drag on and on, especially when we have healthy bodies.

"Again I think he probably won't be ready for Wednesday as well ...but potentially next weekend."

The coach said that he wasn't all together satisfied with the performance of Marek Troncinsky, in Saturday's win over Manchester Storm.

The player has had rave reviews since joining the club and scored the club's fourth goal at Coventry on Sunday.

He has a plus 23 stat in the plus-minus stakes.

"He is a big, heavy player who skates real well. Very offensive.

"I didn't love his game (against Storm) I think it was maybe one of the games when he was not as dialled in off-the-puck as he normally is.

"But, yes, overall from the time he came in to now, he has been a difference-maker for us."