Panthers look to turn on the power

NOTTINGHAM Panthers' player-coach Corey Neilson insists he is not unduly worried about his side's recent failure to score with the man advantage.

Their fading power-play units will be put to the test on Saturday when they face the team with the best penalty-killing record.

Revitalised Sheffield Steelers are at the National Ice Centre looking to improve on their poor record against their big rivals this season.

Ironically, despite them spending most of the season near the bottom of the table, Steelers boast the league's most efficient power-play as well as that successful penalty-killing unit.

By contrast, in their last three games, Panthers have enjoyed the man advantage on 22 occasions – but haven't managed to score once.

It has dropped their efficiency rating down to 19.1%, compared to Sheffield's impressive 25%.

But Neilson says power-play potency goes in cycles as opposition teams work them out.

"It's not been too good lately, but we have been trying different things," he said.

"We've been working on a few adjustments, because teams tend to figure out what you are doing.

"The power-play success always seems to go in cycles and we're changing things at the moment, so I'm not too concerned.

"And it wasn't so long ago we had the best power-play."

With games fast running out in their outside chance of winning the league title, Panthers cannot afford to drop any more points.

The top three teams all have seven games left, with Coventry leading the way on 68 points, ahead of Belfast (63) and Panthers (62).

Sheffield can do Panthers a favour when they face Coventry at IceSheffield tomorrow.

Mind you, in his recent programme notes, Sheffield mouthpiece David Simms said ahead of their first win of the season against Panthers: "Remember, the first rule of being a Steeler is that Panthers don't win the league."

So a shock defeat for Blaze hardly looks on the cards...