After a hard earned; it has to be said; 4 point weekend against both Braehead and Manchester - we firmly get the Elite League campaign underway this. Two tough opponents lie in wait; as every game actually. These will be an early season benchmark and what is good plus what needs improving.
On Friday night, yes that seems strange, we make the journey to the West of Scotland and to the Braehead Arena in Renfrew to face the Clan. What also seems strange, is that I won't be there as usual since I've been there for a least one game since Braehead started up. Still there's always March 2017 right?
Anyway Clan on home ice and with the vociferous support of the Purple Army combined; can be an awkward place to get a result. They showed us glimpses at times how dangerous they can, Matt Beca and Alex Leavitt certainly looked good to me on Saturday. Rosehill was hit and miss, Trevor Hendrix was unexpectedly quiet despite his previous career in Cardiff and despite what Finner said: Michal Zajkowski wasn't brilliant - he was average most at best.
Although I would love to see us come back down the road with two points in the bag, I would actually be happy with one. Seriously, I would be. I'm thinking Clan will get their revenge, but it's going to go beyond 60. It won't be another 9-8 after penalty shots that's for sure.
Verdict: Clan to win this one, 4-3 after overtime.
24 hours to rest any achy bodies, before we play our second game of the weekend. This time we welcome across the sea, Derrick Walser and the Belfast Giants in what is actually our first Conference game of the new season. You didn't realise that did you?
Last season we had the monkey on Belfast's back, I think we only lost the once to them. One performance that bad from a Belfast perspective; so much so that Walser went nuts in his post-match interview - basically putting jobs on the line. But they rallied, albeit a bit late. That's probably why a lot of names return again, as seems to be the Belfast tradition. One name missing will be Darryl Lloyd, Keefe's sidekick. However Steve Saviano and Alex Foster look decent acquisitions and Jim Vandermeer - the former NHLer - will add presence at the back end. It's potentially good.
One thing we need to do to win this game, is to not let a certain Dundonian (provide he starts, and I think he will) settle. Yes that being Stephen Murphy, who seems to have been around years. If Murphy gets rattled, we can wreak havoc. Settle, it could be a patient game.
Verdict: Steelers to win this one by 5-3 in regulation.
So that's my look ahead to the games this weekend? How do you foresee them? Let us know.
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