Sheffield Steelers player will be hoping for a Nottingham Panthers' victory on Saturday

Second-place Cardiff Devils have three games in hand over Sheffield, they trail by just a single point.

Nottingham crashed last weekend, first to Steelers then at Guildford Flames yet could influence the positioning of the top two this coming Saturday.

Panthers host Cardiff and a home win would elevate Sheffield's chances in the run-in.

"We have got to take it game by game - we don't have it in our own hands any more so we have just got to do what we can do and win every game possible" said Sandstrom.

Asked if he was in the unusual position of wanting a Nottingham victory, he replied: "Yes obviously we want all the help we can get. "But at the end it is all about our game and what we can do. We have to win probably every game and we have got to do everything to make that happen."

Steelers will be facing Fife Flyers at home when Panthers challenge Devils.

The Swede - who turns 30 next month - agreed last weekend's victories had been the "do-or-die" mission that coach Aaron Fox had called for.

He said it had been a positive thing to have pressure exerted on them by the coach saying it sharpened a player's focus.

He added: "You want to play games that mean a lot, so the more the better."

He said the team had given up too many chances in the previous four losses "but we are now back on track and we know what it takes to win a game and hopefully we can continue doing this."

The forward's own contribution in recent weeks cannot be undervalued - he has scored 15 points in the last 13 games.

"I have been feeling good lately, obviously I have been playing a little bit more so I have more confidence" he said.

His newly-formed line with Michael Davies and Anthony DeLuca has prospered.

"It felt pretty good, and I think we have been doing great and hopefully we can continue.

"We know each other well...we have good skill. DeLuca has a really good shot and Mikey as well and makes good passes.

"I try to work hard and win the pucks for them. Everything is going good."

The team had a closed-door session after the recent loss at Fife.

Sandstrom reflected: "It is a long season - it is not got in to be good things the whole season, it is going to be ups and downs, sometimes you just have to remind yourself what to do - don't cheat and do the small things right. We have a really good team here and when we play like we should there is no one who can beat us, that's for sure."