Even experienced players know there's plenty of room for improvement at Sheffield Steelers

Last Wednesday's game taught them something they needed reminding of - how to hold on to a lead with measured, conservative game-management.

At 4-1 up against Coventry Blaze, the Arena roof temporarily caved in, with Blaze's David Clements orchestrating a three goal comeback.

Steelers eventually triumphed in a penalty shootout.

Dowd said: "I thought we were very very good for 55 mins of the game, they brought it to us in the last five and scored a couple of goals.

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"Obviously, props to them, they played a good game, but we need obviously to learn a lesson from that and try and close games out and not make such hard work for ourselves.

"We take the two points, happily, and run away with them."

Did anxiety spread through the Sheffield ranks when Blaze started their comeback?

"When it got close we made a couple of uncharacteristic mistakes instead of hanging on to it or just chipping it out," he said.

"We iced the puck a couple of times where if we just hang on to it and make a soft play up the boards we kill the clock a little more, but it was one of those games and we're just happy to sneak away with it."

Steelers need to refocus for the arrival on Saturday of Glasgow Clan, who have clocked up just one league win in 14 attempts.

Dowd says Steelers will be taking nothing for granted.

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"It's always going to be a dangerous time to meet them," he said.

"I think they have got some very good players that can put the puck in the net.

"If you watch their games back they are not getting killed by teams, it is always one-goal games and they come out the wrong side of it and that luck is bound to break at some point.

"You just don't want to be the team that luck breaks on."

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Dowd, if he stays fit, will play his 700th game for Sheffield at Glasgow on December 10.

He said it would be nice to be able to have so many appearances - more than anyone other than his skipper Jonathan Phillips.

He said Steelers was a "massive club and I am very proud to have played a big chunk of my career here."