Fife Flyers assistant coach Jeff Hutchins says the postponement of their game with Cardiff Devils on Sunday helped their team after a rough couple of days in Belfast.
Strong winds saw their return journey to Scotland on Saturday night then on Sunday morning affected as ferries were cancelled.
It meant Flyers had no way of returning in time to take on Cardiff Devils, resulting in the game being scrapped with a rescheduled date to be announced in due course.
Hutchins explained what happened with their travel plans, which were already disrupted as they got ready for the second of the two games against the Giants.
“We had originally planned to leave after the game on Saturday and we knew the late night ferry was cancelled so we’d already made arrangements to stay on another night,” he told BBC Sport Scotland.
“We’d hoped to get the first ferry out on Sunday morning and be back in plenty of time, but that and the second ferry, at 11.30am were also cancelled.
“There were a lot of considerations to make before having to make the decision and there came a point where having a much later face off, potentially 8-8.30pm, just commercially wouldn’t work.”
Belfast Giants picked up four points in their two home games with Fife Flyers at the weekend (PHOTO: William Cherry/Press Eye)
“From our point of view, not having the Sunday game was maybe a good thing, with some players banged up playing the best two teams in the league.
“We were ready to do it, but having a couple of guys down, sometimes these things can work out. The game has to be played another time, but the extra rest is a help to us.”
Hutchins also reflected on the two games against the Giants that saw Adam Keefe’s men take victory on both nights.
He added: “The first night, they got a five-on-three which ultimately killed off the game so we expected a good response on Saturday.
“Losing 2-1, we played well although one mistake costs us the game in the end. In terms of player on Sunday, we were prepared and would have treated it like any other game.
“But when you’re a couple of bodies down, these things have a way to work themselves and gives us a week of preparation and healing time for the guys that need it.
“The game (with Cardiff) has to played another time and it has to be played. We certainly can’t avoid them and it will happen, but in terms of having the three-in-three, it helped us.”
