EDINBURGH Capitals have injury doubts go head-to-head with Dundee Stars in a crucial basement double-header this weekend.
The injury-hit Edinburgh combine are hoping crocked forward Jared Staal, their third top points gatherer (ten goals and ten assists from 21 games), can make it.
And they are also anxious about No 1 goaltender Travis Fullarton who has been suffering from flu after injuring his wrist which meant a debut for under-20 netminder Jordan McLaughlin.
The youngster has acquitted himself well as a stand-in but having ex-Clan star Fullarton back between the pipes would be an added bonus for the Murrayfield men.
Michal Dobron is banned from Saturday’s home clash (6pm) and they face a club with three real danger men.
Vinny Scarsella is currently fourth in the overall Elite League scoring charts having registered 11 goals and collected 25 assists for 36 points from 28 games.
That total takes the former Manchester Storm man to within five points of the overall leader, consistent Canadian marksman Matt Beca of Braehead Clan who has 19 goals and 22 assists.
Kevin Bruijsten is another key player for coach Marc Lefebvre as he is nine points adrift of Scarsella with 27 points from 23 games accumulated from nine goals and 18 assists.
Defenceman Felix-Antoine Poulin is another man Capitals will have to watch as he has 24 points gained from eight goals and 16 assists in 28 games.
Capitals will look to Pavel Vorobyev (cor) to guide them. The Russian has 32 points from 26 games (12 goals and 20 assists) while defenceman Jacob Johnston has scored eight goals and assisted in 15 other strikes in 26 games to be second in the club listings.
Dundee have been in ninth position in the ten-strong table since week 14 (December 10) and have never been higher than sixth.
Capitals have propped up the table since week 13 (December 4) and their highest position has also been sixth.
So, there is not much between the teams going into what Lefebvre calls a huge weekend for the club and their play-off ambitions.
Capitals visit The Dundee Ice Arena on Sunday (6.30pm)
Photo courtesy of Ian Coyle
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