Sean Collins: No need for Sheffield Steelers panic after Coventry Blaze defeat
Sheffield Steelers lost out to Coventry Blaze on Sunday after a fine win on Saturday night over Dardiff Devils
Sheffield Steelers forward Sean Collins has urged calm after Sunday’s 4-2 defeat at Coventry Blaze, insisting there is no cause for concern as Aaron Fox’s side continue to develop their identity.
The loss was Sheffield’s first in the Challenge Cup this season, coming less than 24 hours after a strong 3-1 home victory over Cardiff Devils.
For Collins, the message is simple: learn from it, improve, and move on.
“I don’t think it’s a cause for concern,” he said.
“Early in the season you’re still trying to figure out your identity and build chemistry with guys.
“For some of the new players, you’re playing in different rinks and experiencing a lot of new things.
“We just have to be better.”
The experienced former NHL forward felt Sheffield’s slow start in Coventry gave them too much to do.
“It’s obviously an older-school rink,” Collins said.
“The fans are a little bit more on top of you and they seem to play pretty well at home.
“For us, the start really took us out of it a little bit.
“When you’re down on the road, it’s tough playing from behind and having to fight your way back.”
Collins also believes the Steelers have to adapt better to the different challenges they will face away from the Utilita Arena.
“Sometimes you go into a rink where the atmosphere is different and you have to mentally get yourself prepared for the game a little bit more than you would at home in Sheffield,” he said.
“That’s something we’ve got to work on.
“The good thing is we’re learning those lessons early in the season. We can build from them and hopefully they help us for the rest of the year.”
For a Steelers side packed with offensive talent, Collins believes the next step is learning how to win when games become less attractive.
“We have a very skilled team, but sometimes on the road you have to play those uglier games,” he said.
“You’re not always going to get the perfect conditions or the perfect game.
“Sometimes you just have to find a way to win.
“That’s something we have to figure out as a group, and I think that will come with the experience and talent we have.”
Collins believes the improvements needed are relatively straightforward.
“We just have to start games better and clean up a few mistakes around the blue lines,” he added.
“If we do that, we’ll be okay going forward.”