Fife Flyers’ boss Todd Dutiaume has asked fans to remain patient as the club bids to halt its recent wretched run of form at Braehead Clan on Friday.
The Flyers have won just once in their last eight Elite League games to slip into the bottom half of the table, but Dutiaume says he’s working hard to put things right.
“We’re in a bit of a low right now, but we’re trying to stay positive with these guys,” Dutiaume told Fife Today.
“I want people to know we’re absolutely committed to fixing it, and we will get better, but this isn’t a quick fix.
“We need guys healthy, and we need a bit of new blood and injection of life into the line-up, but by no means is that the saviour.
“It’s getting these guys believing in themselves and getting back to business. I’d really like a run where we get our whole line-up back and get this team back to some stability and continuity because it’s been a trying season so far.
“Every week we’re looking at different lines, guys playing in different position, the powerplay getting jumbled around – there’s no consistency and that’s tough for players to adapt to.
“I’m very well aware of the team I have and its capabilities and limitations, but it’s times like this you get a measure of what type of player you have – whether they make excuses or chomp their teeth down on the bit and go for it.”
Nottingham Panthers kick-off the busy Christmas period with a home game against Dundee Stars on Friday.
The Panthers currently lie fourth in the standings and despite having a number of key players out injured forward Robert Farmer believes they can still climb higher.
“We’re missing some key guys – we’ve had a tough schedule but every player is battling,” Farmer told the Nottingham Post.
“We’ve got people playing with injuries and we are 100 percent committed. The last couple of weeks we’ve been much better – we had a tough run there.
“They happen and I think every team in the league this year will have one now there are ten good teams. We’ve got to keep getting guys back and keep getting points along the way.”
FRIDAY FIXTURES
Belfast Giants v Edinburgh Capitals
Braehead Clan v Fife Flyers
Cardiff Devils v Manchester Storm
Nottingham Panthers v Dundee Stars
(Image permission: Karl Denham)
