Ice hockey – two huge games as Capitals bid for play-offs

Jacob Johnston eyed this weekend’s tough double-header and declared: “These are two huge games for us.”

Edinburgh Capitals travel to play-off rivals Coventry Blaze tonight (Saturday, 7pm) for the first time in the league this season and host Manchester Storm, who are also in the play-off mix, tomorrow (Sunday, 6pm).

Coach Michal Dobron’s team edged Storm 2-1 at Murrayfield last Sunday, a result which has boosted moral for the Elite League’s bottom club.

They have 23 points from 32 games and eighth-placed Blaze have 29 points from 36 outings.

Johnston, a 28-year-old defenceman from Sudbury, Ontatio, said: “The guys are happy with the win (over Manchester) on Sunday.”

And he revealed that Capitals could be at full-strength.
Johnston added: “We have been playing some really good hockey over the past few games so it was nice to be rewarded last Sunday.

“This weekend we have two big games and we need to beat both teams to give us a good opportunity to earn a play-off spot.”

Elsewhere, Fife Flyers visit Braehead Clan (Saturday, face-off 7pm) looking for their first win in Glasgow in the league this term.

The Kirkcaldy club have lost 6-3 and 4-3 but are fourth with 38 points from 33 games in the ten-strong table following three straight wins.

Clan have won their last two and are two points behind but have played three more games.

Second-bottom Dundee Stars are at seventh-placed Manchester Storm (Saturday, face-off 7pm) looking for a second road win there this season have triumphed 3-2 on penalty shots earlier this term.

They also lost 4-1 on their second visit and frustrated coach Marc Lefebvre ordered his men to shoot.

He said: “We want to make an extra pass or play instead of shooting the puck.”