Sheffield Steeldogs coach Slava Koulikov with chance to maintain final record against against Leeds Knights

His Sheffield Steeldogs team lines up against the Knights in Thursday night’s first leg of the NIHL National Cup final with history on his side.

Three years ago, when coach of Peterborough Phantoms, Koulikov masterminded victory over the Knights at the same stage of this competition, an astounding 6-0 lead from the first leg on home ice proving to be just enough after Leeds almost pulled off a remarkable comeback, winning the second leg 6-2, but losing 8-6 on aggregate.

Just over 12 months later, he steered the Phantoms to play-off glory at the Knights’ expense in Coventry, securing a 4-3 triumph after a nail-biting shootout.

But Koulikov – having made the move to Sheffield last summer to end 11 years behind the bench in Peterborough – is under no illusions.

The current Knights team may be close to losing the league crown it has worn for the past three years – Swindon Wildcats almost guaranteed of inheriting the regular season title – but Koulikov knows they will not give up the other trophy they won last year without a fight.

The head-to-head series between the Yorkshire rivals is a clear indication of how close the two-legged final is to call.

Of the five games so far, Leeds have won three. In an unusual twist, on each occasion the away team has prevailed.

Regardless of who comes out on top at Elland Road Ice Arena tonight, there will be little by way of celebrations, with Koulkiov expecting another tough night when the two teams conclude the tie at Ice Sheffield on March 11.

“It will be entertaining but in a different way,” said Koulikov. “Two big games with a trophy on the line, they might not be as open as the league games but the commitment and the compete level will be through the roof.

“We go to Leeds and we all know what the crowd is like when it is a full building for a big game, I’ve been involved in a few there myself and knowing how they play, they will be absolutely relentless.

“They will go out, play physical, battle really hard – they are a very good hockey team.

“They have been the best team in the league for the last three seasons and they have experience of the big games and it will obviously be a really big challenge.”

Leeds go into the first leg on the back of four straight losses – their worst-ever regular season run under Aldridge.

Before the double-header weekend against Romford Raiders that saw them come out on top twice – just – the Steeldogs had suffered something of a wobble themselves, losing five straight.

“You don’t want to carry a long losing streak into the final,” stressed Koulikov. “But if I had to choose between having two easy games, or wins where we had to fight for or hold on to the lead – like in the first game (against Romford), or to fight back from 4-2 down to win in overtime on Sunday – I will always take those because it rebuilds confidence and shows the character of the team and the players.

“It was great preparation for Thursday.”

On the pressure that comes with such an occasion, Koulikov added: “We can be philosophical as much as we want – it is a game that has a lot higher stakes, but the game is played the same.

“It’s about the desire, it’s about the commitment and it’s about leaving everything on the ice.

"It is a 120-minute hockey game and, once it is done, there isn’t a second chance.”