Fife Flyers visit Braehead Clan on Saturday aiming to continue their recent impressive form in the Elite League.
Eight wins from their last eleven matches has seen the Flyers edge closer to the top half of the table whilst strengthening their hold on top spot in the Gardiner Conference.
Forward Paddy Cullen (above) says the team are playing with plenty of confidence at the moment.
“A lot more plays are being made and it goes from the goalie right out through the back end – everyone’s feeling good,” he said.
“It’s important to have good weeks of practice, which have been helping lead to the results. We’ve just got to keep grinding here and keep pushing.
“If we can get the Conference title it would be awesome – and if we can climb as high as we can in the standings, it would be awesome too.
“The only way we’re going to get there is by breaking it down, not looking at the big picture, and just going period by period.
“The guys are aware of the standings, but it’s not something we’re sitting down and worrying about.
“You could run 1,000 different scenarios but ultimately, when a game comes, it’s up to the guys in the dressing room to go on the ice and perform – that’s all we worry about.
“It’s a good feeling to know we’re in with a chance, but there’s a lot more work to do here.
“We’ll take things day-by-day in practice and, when weekends come, we’ve just got to be as ready as can be.”
Coventry Blaze Head Coach Chuck Weber wants his team to draw on last season’s experience as they chase a play-off spot.
Blaze qualified for the play-offs on the penultimate weekend of the campaign, before going on to lift the trophy with victory over Sheffield Steelers at the National Ice Centre.
They sit a point clear of ninth-placed Manchester Storm, with Blaze having 11 games to play – three more than their rivals.
Blaze welcome Belfast Giants to the Skydome on Saturday night ahead of a trip to Nottingham Panthers on Sunday.
Weber said: “We control our own destiny, but we have to make sure we get some timely wins.
“We have games in hand, but we need to take care of our own business and not rely on other results.
“We need to get points when we are not expected to get points. We did it last year down the stretch which propelled us up the table and we need to do the same again.
“The guys who are paid to score the big goals need to score the big goals and the guys who are paid to defend and shut down teams will need to defend and shut teams down.
“We need to be at our best to give ourselves a chance to get to the second season.”
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Saturday
Braehead Clan v Fife Flyers
Coventry Blaze v Belfast Giants
Manchester Storm v Dundee Stars
Sheffield Steelers v Cardiff Devils
Sunday
Cardiff Devils v Sheffield Steelers
Dundee Stars v Braehead Clan
Edinburgh Capitals v Manchester Storm
Nottingham Panthers v Coventry Blaze
(Image permission: Fife Flyers)
