PLAYMAKER Marty Gascon admits Nottingham Panthers will have to be on the top of their game when Sheffield Steelers come to the National Ice Centre tomorrow (7pm).

And the French-Canadian winger, currently enjoying one of his most successful seasons as a pro, believes Sunday's trip to bottom-markers Hull can be equally as tough.

Panthers cannot afford to lose either game if they are to maintain an interest in the Elite League title, while hoping current leaders Coventry and Belfast drop points.

It will be Sheffield's third game in four days when they face Panthers.

Two late goals saw them come up with a road 5-4 win against Cardiff on Wednesday, and Steelers face Coventry tonight.

"Games against Sheffield are always special and I know it's been like that for years," said Gascon.

"We've only lost the once against them but every time we've met, it's been a battle.

"It's been the same against Hull and they are two games we have to win.

"In fact, we have to win our last seven games and hope our rivals drop points.

"But there are no bottom-of-the-table teams, when wins can be taken for granted.

"Right now every team is competing at their best."

Last weekend, Panthers gave vastly contrasting displays in their two games with Cardiff.

In the league game at home, Panthers were poor for the first two periods but came back well to force overtime, before finally losing on penalty shots.

Then, 24-hours later in South Wales, Panthers put in one of their grittiest road performances of the season to beat Cardiff 4-2 in the first leg of the Challenge Cup final.

"People had been saying that Cardiff were not a good road team," added Gascon.

"But they played an almost perfect game in Nottingham.

"We knew it would be close and their five-game winning streak must have given them some confidence.

"Unfortunately, they got the edge in the shoot-out but it could have gone either way.

"The next night, it was a different game in their tight, smaller rink because it was a lot more physical – and we gave as good as we got.

"They're a big side, but then we've got some big guys, too, and they did their jobs by making the smaller guys, like me, an inch taller!"

Apart from the 2007-08 season in the French Division One, when he tore the league apart, this season is Gascon's most productive since he turned professional.

But he says it is the team ethic that is making him almost a point-a-game success.

"There are team targets rather than personal goals and that is why we are doing well," he said.

"The more the team is together, it follows that the better the individual performances will be.

"There are some tremendous, high-quality players in the league.

"And you don't come across guys as good as (team-mate) Cameron Mann playing AA hockey in North America.

"It's a different style of hockey over here, that for sure.

"But it's skilful, physical and fast – everything really that makes hockey the game it is."