- Sheffield's offence has been on point
- Zurich coming off first loss in their last contest
- Defence will be key for the Swiss
5th-placed ZSC Lions Zurich will take on 8th-placed Sheffield Steelers in this Game Day 5 fixture that finds the British side facing their second Swiss opponent. Sheffield enter the contest riding a three-game win streak, while Zurich suffered their first loss of the season - a 4-2 defeat - at the hands of Red Bull Salzburg on Game Day 4.
With their three-goal showing against Skellefteå AIK, the British side has now scored three or more goals in each of their four games leading up to their tilt against Zurich. Sheffield's 3.5 goals for per game are tied for 5th place league-wide and their 2.25 goals against per game are also in the top 10 in the league. But while their numbers support their claim as one of the top teams in the league, their special teams could use some work.
Out of their 16 powerplay opportunities, the Brits have only managed to convert three times, giving them a powerplay conversion rate of 18.75%. If Sheffield can find more success on the man advantage, their chances at securing their fourth consecutive win and climbing the standings will only improve.
On the opposing bench, Zurich were on the cusp of a perfect record to close out Game Day 4, but a strong start from the Austrians eventually spoiled the Swiss side's 4-0 bid. A three-game win streak to start the season, however, has Zurich in prime position to move on to the next leg of the competition despite their difficult match-up against Sheffield.
What made Zurich so successful in the early going was their ability to stifle the opposition's offence. Before allowing four goals to Salzburg, the Swiss allowed two or fewer goals in their first three fixtures, including allowing only one goal in their first two contests. Sustaining their dominance on defence will be key against a high-scoring Sheffield club.