CANADIAN defenceman Jacob Johnston remains up-beat ahead of Edinburgh Capitals’ crunch clash at play-off rivals Manchester Storm today, Saturday (7pm).
The Murrayfield men occupy bottom spot with 34 points from 46 games while Storm are ninth with 39 points from 47 fixtures.
The men from The Storm Shelter have lost their last eight games but have won two of the three match-ups so far in the North West 9 4-2 and 6-2) but lost the last fixture 5-2 giving Capitals hope.
Johnston said: “We have to string together some wins in our remaining six games and hope for other results to go our way. The guys won’t give up until we are mathematically eliminated.”
Braehead Clan are out for revenge when high-flying Sheffield Steelers visit Glasgow tonight (SAT, 7pm).
The third-placed Yorkshire side snatched a 2-1 victory on their last visit and Clan are determined to add to their 4-1 midweek win over struggling Manchester Storm.
Clan are fourth in the ten-strong table with 51 points from 47 games and want to stay ahead of fifth-placed Nottingham Panthers who are a point behind but have played 44 games, three less than the Scots.
Elsewhere, Fife Flyers coach Todd Dutiaume wants a reaction from his side after a verbal volley following their 5-3 home defeat to Capitals last weekend.
The Fifers, who are sixth, travel to play-off chasing Coventry Blaze (7pm) who are a position and four points behind but have played 48 games, two less than the Kirkcaldy club who won 1-0 on their last visit.
Dundee Stars, who occupy the eighth and final play-off spot, are 33 points adrift of champions-elect Cardiff Devils who won 4-1 on the only previous occasion the pair have met in the Principality in the league this term. The face-off is 7pm.
Vinny Scarsella, Stars’ American marksman and the current Elite League Player of the Week, said: “We’re confident right now.”
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