Sheffield Steelers put injury woes behind them to stretch unbeaten run

The Great Britain winger was left screaming in pain after a collision on the boards in Saturday's 5-3 victory over Glasgow Clan.

It was only the club's second win in 10 attempts over Clan. But Dowd's condition - he needed gas and air before being carted off to hospital - deflated emotions.

He must undergo surgery on a dislocated shoulder and acromioclavicular joint some time before Christmas Day.

Coach Fox said of Dowd: "You cannot replace Robert Dowd. That is just someone that is just irreplaceable.

"He got hip-checked when he tried to move through the middle, I don't know if it happened on the way to the ground or when he hit the boards, there."

And Fox has no definitive news on when other injury victims Armstrong, Johnson, Liwing and Bettauer will be be back, but said it was just as likely that he would need to sign more imports than release any.

Sunday night saw top-of-the-league Steelers put these woes behind them with a superb 5-1 victory at Braehead Arena.

Lucas Sandstrom brought the best out of goalie Patrick Killeen, then beat him on a 5-on-3 Power Play.

Five minutes later, Sandstrom looked like he'd provided Janne Kolehmainen's first goal for the club, but a video review cut short the celebrations; Clan's net had been off its moorings.

It was bad luck for Sheffield, but it didn't stop them finding the net in a fine effort from Nikolai Lemtyugov.

Clan had been profoundly second best - they yielded to a 21-6 shot count in the opening session - and needed a middle-period boost.Matt Stanisz was denied that when the away goalie stopped him.And worse followed when Michael Davies scored the second PP goal of the night, at 24:48.Eberle had two efforts on goal as Sheffield sought to put the result beyond doubt - the task being taken up with gusto by Anthony DeLuca, who made it 4-0 at 37:38, on another 5-on-3 advantage.A rare mistake gifted Clan a goal. But Fox's men responded with their fourth PP strike of the night, from Davies.