After the interesting weekend-ish just gone, Steelers are back in action on Wednesday night. It's the last eight of this season Mickey Mouse Cup, or should that read the Nottingham Panthers Challenge Cup. Well, they seem to win it every year don't they?
Our quarter final first leg takes place in the confines of Murrayfield, which can only mean we are playing this lot:
Yes we encounter an Edinburgh Capitals side that recovered from a 4-1 deficit just a few weeks ago and almost pulled off probably the biggest comeback since Lazarus showed his face on earth. We escaped with a shootout win then but it was another game that we shed a lead and became the Elite League's worst ever doggie walkers! Think about the pun...
Under new player-coach Michal Dobron, Capitals have been a much improved force especially on home ice and at the moment, all the players are buying in and not wanting to jump ship as it had been in previous seasons. Dobron has recruited well, and in former Chicago Blackhawk and 206 game KHL forward Pavel Vorobyev - he's got a quality player. The man might be 34 now but he's still got the quality about him, as we do know since he scored a hat-trick in that previous Murrayfield meeting.
We need to be on top form and not allow the Capitals to get into a rhythm. Obviously there will be a little reshuffle of the lines due to Yared Hagos' absence, so I expect either Liam or Cole to travel up with the team and still allow the luxury that is four forward lines to still roll. How Thommo plans it, I don't have a clue but he'll have it all worked out I'm sure. Well like all fans, I genuinely hope he has.
To be honest losing this leg would not be as bad as it sounds, if we do then we need to keep it close going into Saturday's second leg which I will preview later in the week. This is a game where the defence need to step up as one and not rely on Moose to bail them out. Offensively, we are firing with all lines contributing and in Colton Fretter we have a player who probably playing at the top of his game. He could have a major impact on this game with his skill and eye for a goal or assist.
Prediction: Capitals to edge the first leg by 3-2 in regulation.
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