Giants need to get back to winning ways and fast: Lake
BELFAST Giants forward Ben Lake says the team are going to go back to basics this weekend as they look to bounce back into the win column against the Dundee Stars at the SSE Arena tonight (face-off 7pm).
The entire bowl will be filled in at the Arena for the fourth clash between the two sides this season as the Giants aim to arrest a two-game losing skid, both of which came against the Nottingham Panthers last weekend.
Adam Keefe’s side were uncharacteristically wasteful in front of goal at the Motorpoint Arena, only beating Panthers netminder Kevin Carr once across the two games in a poor offensive weekend that saw their six-game win streak snapped.
Despite that, the Giants still boast the best points percentage in the league — despite sitting third currently — and Lake insists their focus tonight is simply on ensuring they give themselves a chance of picking up the two points.
“You’re not going to win every game. It was nice being on that six-game winning streak but we know we’re not going to win every game,” says the 29-yearold, who will be returning to former side the Coventry Blaze for the Giants’ second game of the weekend tomorrow (5.30pm).
“Last Saturday we didn’t give ourselves a chance to win that game, but Sunday we did, we just needed pucks to go in the net.
“This weekend we’re going into the games with the mindset of giving ourselves the opportunity to win the game. If we do that then the results will look after themselves.
“We’ve had a tough week of practice and everybody’s ready for this weekend. We’re excited to right the ship here.”
The GB international, who has seven goals and 17 points in domestic action this season with the Giants, also admits the team did not focus too much on the Panthers weekend, instead putting more importance on the games coming up.
“You have to have a short memory in this league. If you continue to dwell on losses then it’s going to be a snowball effect,” claims Lake.
“Yeah, we lost two games. We have to put that behind us and move on. Go on another streak. We’re capable of it, it’s just a case of playing our game. If we do that, we’ll come out on top most nights.”
• THE Belfast Giants SNL team are back in league action tonight seeking their first win of the season as they travel to the North Ayrshire Wild (6.30pm).