Dundee Stars playcaller Omar Pacha eyed Friday’s (7.30pm) Elite League home clash with Glasgow Clan and admitted: “This match is huge for us.”
The Canadian (pictured at a press conference in Glasgow) is determined to lead his men to the end-of-season play-offs and lowly Stars desperately need points.
They have accumulated 28 points from 37 games and sit in ninth spot but only eight teams qualify.
Manchester Storm have 30 points from 35 games for eighth position while seventh-placed Clan have 32 points from 35 fixtures.
Pacha’s resurgent men have, however, won three of their last five games including a 5-2 home victory over second-placed Cardiff Devils on Sunday.
And Clan have suffered four straight defeats – including two at home – since their 3-2 victory over Coventry Blaze on January 10.
Pacha said that the recent run had been because they have tightened up on defence.
The former Hull Stingrays and Manchester Storm star added: “Defensively we are better and we only allowed two goals against Cardiff, and our special teams have been better as well.
“We have lost on the road at Cardiff (Devils) and Coventry (Blaze) but even then we’ve been in those games.”
Friday’s game, he said, was significant and added: “It could mean a big swing in points as they are four points ahead of us.”
Pacha was asked if Stars were meeting inconsistent Clan at the right time and he said: “The season has its ups and down and you don’t want to be the team that uses you as a springboard.
“Yes, they are struggling a bit but we have gone through that phase and one game can change a lot of things and we don’t want to be the team which gives them hope.”
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