Sheffield Steelers: Tomas Duba wants to follow up emphatic win over Belfast Giants with another victory

The goaltender stopped no less than 47 shots against EIHL champions Belfast Giants on Wednesday at the Arena.

That paved the way for an unexpectedly emphatic 5-0 win, keeping Sheffield as sole occupiers of the number one spot in the table.

It has taken a time to come for the veteran Czech netminder - but it was worth the wait.

However, with old foes Cardiff Devils heading the South Yorkshire on Saturday, Duba now has to re-focus on the task of keeping his side at the pinnacle against a side that has twice beaten them this year.

The netminder said he was happy his clean sheet had "finally happened" adding that he had come close on previous occasions.

A potential shut out started to enter his mind only in dying minutes of the Belfast game, when David Goodwin struck the post on a penalty shot.

It had followed an earlier effort, from Patrick Mullen, which had also grazed his right hand upright.

Duba said he'd enjoyed the game, which was screened to a TV audience on Freesports and was their eighth home win from nine outings.

He said he hadn't even feel tired despite the barrage of shots that needed his attention.

The scale of the win though didn't send any warning message to other Elite League rivals though, he believes.

"This was actually the first game we have won against a top, top team...we go from here on," said Duba.

Cardiff have beaten Sheffield at home and away.

Duba, 38, said the Welsh were "a very experienced and compact team’’.

"They are dangerous on the Power Play. I thought both of the games we played them were quite tight, we were just a little bit maybe unfortunate in those games so we just have to keep playing the same way and hope it is our game."

Sheffield are currently three points clear of second-placed Glasgow Clan, who have three games in hand.

Clan can claw back two of those points on Friday when they host Nottingham.

For Steelers there is no sign of a let-up on important games - on Sunday they travel to the Panthers.