Sheffield Steelers 'Only chance we have of winning is if we believe in ourselves,' Aaron Johnson says

They will find out definitively how they match-up against EIHL title favourites Cardiff Devils, with a league game against them on Friday and then the Challenge Cup Final on Sunday.

While every weekend has carried significant pressure for coach Aaron Fox and his roster, this one has the potential to wreck or rescue their season.

Some individuals will cope better than others in the two, high-octane showdowns.

But you'd expect Aaron Johnson, with his 291 NHL games under his belt for the likes of Chicago Blackhawks, New York Islanders and Edmonton Oilers, to be as well prepared as anybody.

Looking ahead at the two Devils' games, the 36-year-old from Cape Breton Island, Canada said self-belief will be critical.

"We are going in thinking the same about both of them, it is a must-win for the league and a must-win to win the Challenge Cup," he said bluntly.

"The only chance we have of winning is if we believe in ourselves.

"The goal right now is to go out and play hard and see what happens.

"We were fortunate enough to get a win in their barn and hopefully that will give us some confidence."

Johnson was referring to January's 5-4 win at the Viola Arena, which was their first victory in Wales since March 2018.

Steelers were down twice in the game but found a way to get the better of Cardiff's defence - something which has alluded them in their three previous meetings this term, all of which ended in defeat.

Cardiff, with their three games in hand, are most independent people's prediction to win the main trophy.

But defenceman Johnson said there could be plenty of twists and turns in what remains of the ice hockey season.

His team would play the same way as an underdog as if they were favourites, he said.

But they had to continue their commitment to paying attention to the minute details of game-day and in practice.

"We have been playing play offs, it feels like, for the past month and a half. Every game is a big game," said Johnson.

"We know there are teams that are chasing us, we know there are teams that are trying to make the play offs so we just try and approach every game the same way."

*Brendan Connolly (27+33) and Marco Vallerand (30+30) are tied at the top of the club's points table with 60 points each.