Edinburgh Capitals face a testing on-the-road double-header this weekend.
They visit Elite League newcomers Guildford Flames on Saturday (6pm) and league champions Cardiff Devils 24-hours later.
So far, bosses have not confirmed any replacements to bolster the misfiring, hand-picked side who have won just three of 18 competitive games so far this season.
It’s no wonder that they prop up the 12-strong league as the Murrayfield men have lost ten straight league games and have only two points from 12 games.
In contrast, new leaders Nottingham Panthers have 22 points from 14 starts.
Guildford, incidentally are ninth with 12 points from 12 games and Devils are sixth with 14 points from ten games.
Flames come into the weekend after back-to-back league defeats while Cardiff have hit form with three straight league wins.
Capitals co-owner Scott Neil says he is more frustrated than anyone as he believed the new-look squad under coach Dmitri Khristich was going to be a solid unit.
After three players walked out, Khristich, who played over 800 games in the National Hockey League, and Neil have to stitch the bruised and battered squad back together.
The simple fact, according to Neil, is that Capitals are not competing.
He says the squad is handcuffed by injuries but he’s not rushing recruitment.
Neil identified two issues, the need for backbone in the side and he wants real steel in the team.
Meanwhile, the under-pressure co-owner continues his global search to find the right players to turn the team around and give success-hungry fans something to cheer.
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