Fri 20 Mar 2026 - 10:30AM

WEEKEND LOWDOWN: STEELERS DOUBLE-HEADER

By Jono Bullard

After the tense overtime win against Coventry Blaze in the final, the newly-crowned Challenge Cup champions Nottingham Panthers return to Elite League action this weekend with two games against bitter rivals Sheffield Steelers.

On Saturday evening, the teams will face each other in Sheffield (19:00) with the return at a sold-out Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham on Sunday afternoon (16:00).

Just two points separate second-placed Panthers and third-placed Steelers in the Elite League standings.

Panthers come into the game having lost 7-2 to Cardiff Devils in Cardiff last Sunday, while the Steelers lost twice at home to league-leading Belfast Giants last weekend with 4-0 and 4-1 defeats.

The head-to-head between the two sides this season is split at four games each in the eight games played, with four games going to overtime and both sides scoring 23 goals each in total.

Steelers big dangerman is Mitchell Balmas. He’s scored six goals against Panthers so far this season, including a hat-trick at the Motorpoint Arena on 27th December. Balmas leads the league in goals and points with 31 goals and 30 assists for 61 points overall.

Panthers have three players tied on seven points against the Steelers this season. Ross Armour (4+3), Brendan Harris (3+4) and Matt Marcinew (2+5). Tim Doherty is second behind Mitchell Balmas in league pointscoring with 49 and also leads the league in assists with 35.

As always, these games prove to be extremely popular with supporters. Over 9,000 fans are expected at the Utilita Arena on Saturday while the return at the Motorpoint Arena on Sunday has been sold-out for two weeks.

Sheffield will be desperately wanting to put one over the Challenge Cup champions, while Nottingham will be wanting to build on their second trophy win of the season. It promises to be a cracking weekend.