It's the penultimate weekend of the season and still all to play for. We face two more huge games, one on the road Saturday night and back in the House Of Steel on the Sunday. It's as Sir Alex Ferguson once said: "Squeaky bum time" and there are sure to be nerves amongst both players and fans alike. Can we handle the pressure?
Steelers currently have a two point lead at the head of the Elite League standings, garnered by that 5-2 win last Saturday against Fife and Cardiff's reverse in Nottingham last Friday. This Saturday it's our turn to go down to the NIC and plan to come away with the points. It's going to be tough, very tough. Cardiff might be facing Belfast in two games at the new Ice Arena Wales, but we have to take care of our own concerns first. It that simple.
Nottingham, fresh from the elation of winning the Challenge Cup, came down to earth with a bump 48 hours ago (Wednesday) when they were heavily beaten 6-1 by Coventry. Have you noticed the similarity there, Challenge Cup winners beaten comprehensively next league game - happened to Cardiff last season in that crazy game where we kinda ran riot and Cardiff lost the game and their heads as well. But rest assured Panthers will be smarting and wounded; nothing would give them great pleasure in scudding any title hopes of ours.
They have the players to do in all positions, Evan Mosey (a recent call up by GB) is dangerous in both defence and attack but we can't afford to concentrate our thoughts on just him. The 8-0 loss; which still hurts now; shows that they can damage you with their offence as seven different players lit the lamp that night. Miika Wiikman has been a very good replacement for the legendary K-Wall and will be hard to get past.
We need to play like we know we can, and if we can do that - then we can come away with the points. Remember what happened in the NIC at this time last year? Draw inspiration from that, and silence the building.
Sunday and it's the visit from our nemeses, Coventry. It's about time we got the measure of them and handed them a comprehensive beating for all the pain they have caused this season. Get into Stewart's head early, make him work hard and draw him out of position. Ensure they are the ones who become ill-disciplined and lose their heads. Surely we have got to get it right, now. Also make sure that Jordan Pietrus doesn't control things up top and don't allow Brenden Walker the space to unleash his one-timer effort. But can we do it?
Prediction time? Nottingham is too close to call, it might go beyond 60. Coventry, I'm hoping for a 5-2 home win. How do you see it?
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