Well this weekend sees us on the road for an absolutely huge double header weekend it has to be said. The boys, and probably a sizeable away contingent too, are in Northern Ireland as we lock horns with the Belfast Giants in the SSE Arena as it is now known. With the teams separated by just a solitary point in the league standings; this is definitely a massive weekend for players, staff and fans alike of both teams.
What Steelers have to do is quite simple, and I think it can be applied to any game against any team in the entire league too: take control of the ice early on, get the locals restless and whilst being aggressive in offence; be equally focused in defence and have the opposition playing on the periphery. Do those simple things and you will win the hockey game.
Belfast will be no different in the slightest.
Credit though to Derrick Walser we must say, the players are buying into his systems and a league position of second going into Friday evening is no more than he deserves. Belfast are one of those sides whom there is quality from front to back, they have players who can seriously damage you offensively and defensively. Then there's the former Steelers players in Mike Forney and Colin Shields always keen to put one over on us. The third line of Keefe-Lloyd-Garside is one of the best third lines going, and you can be sure as eggs are eggs: the afore mentioned first two names will be doing everything they can to rattle our cages and get into our heads. It's what they're bloody good at!
It's also a baptism of fire for our new signing and family member, Conny Strömberg. But Conny's been around a fair bit so I am sure it will not faze him in the slightest. All he wants to do is to play hockey and land himself a spot until the end of the season. In addition, Mathieu Roy returned to practice this week and what a boost that would be to have him back in the line-up if he thinks he is ready. We've certainly missed his presence in the team, although players like Levi Nelson and Robbie Dowd have really stepped it up in the time he's been absent.
So what am I expecting? Two very tough games in a nutshell.
Prediction Time: Game 1 - Steelers to win this in overtime, Giants to win Game 2 in regulation by a couple of goals.
Bring it on and I'll see some of you in Rockies!
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