FOR Aaron Fox, the talent he possesses in his Sheffield Steelers crew has by no means been in query.
But numerous outcomes and performances over the previous few weeks have offered him with doubts over the need and dedication of a few of his gamers.
The latest 5-0 midweek defeat at Cardiff Devils – coming simply three days after a 6-5 additional time defeat at dwelling to second-bottom Dundee Stars – appeared to be the low level for Fox, definitely judging by his post-match feedback when he blasted quite a few unnamed gamers as “lazy and soft”.
Since that depressing journey to South Wales on April 1, Fox has had his temper improved by a turnaround in the applying of his group.
A 3-point return and the accompanying performances in the common season-closing double header towards Glasgow Clan final day out – together with an 8-1 win at dwelling – was a begin for the Steelers’ head coach however he now needs to see that maintained throughout each nights of this weekend’s play-off quarter-final towards Guildford Flames.
“Obviously getting some momentum at home was important for us, as well as finding the back of the net and finding some confidence,” stated Fox, whose crew’s play-off hopes have been ended in additional time on the semi-final stage by Nottingham Panthers final season.
“And then in the road game in Glasgow, we played pretty well for the majority of that game and, overall, we probably deserved better. But there were a lot of positives to take from the weekend, for sure.
“We definitely have the talent group-wise to make a run here. It is just going to come down to our compete level, the willingness to do what is needed in the play-offs to have success and by taking our chances, defending hard and making teams earn their opportunities.
“And obviously you need it from everybody, every night here.”
The 3-2 additional time loss in Glasgow on Sunday meant the Steelers completed the common season in fourth place and secured them a play-off date with Guildford, the primary leg of which is in Surrey tonight earlier than concluding in Sheffield on Sunday (4pm).
The groups met eight instances in all through the common season, the Steelers profitable seven of these, together with two Challenge Cup group encounters.
The solely reverse got here at The Spectrum in mid-February when the Steelers misplaced out 2-1 in additional time.
But, as all the time right now of yr, earlier type and match-ups rely for little as groups square-up over what’s successfully a two-legged cup tie main right into a one-game semi-final and ultimate subsequent week in Nottingham.
