Fifers failing to fly high as coach rues lost leads

ICE HOCKEY: Todd Dutiaume’s side have suffered two defeats in a row and sit eighth

Gutted Todd Dutiaume saw his Fife Flyers slip down to eighth position in the Elite League and admitted: “We don’t have the killer instinct.”

Back-to-back weekend defeats at league pace-setters Sheffield Steelers and at home to Guildford Flames mean Flyers have 22 points from 25 games.

They are now only two points ahead of ninth-placed Manchester Storm who have a game in hand.

And only the top eight qualify for the end-of-season play-offs.

Worryingly, 11 goals hit Fife’s net in 120 minutes of hockey at the weekend with only four in reply.

On Saturday, Fife are at Manchester, a critical game given the league positions, and they then host the Belfast Giants, who are third with 30 points from 24 starts, on Sunday.

Dutiaume said: “We were susceptible to our Achilles heel again, not being able to see out games that we are competing in. I am tired of losing track of games that we have been ahead by one goal in two periods and find a way of throwing it away.

“To be fair to my players I think the effort they put in at Sheffield was substantial considering we were short of three key players in our line-up, they put up a hell of a fight. The fatigue that came in from being short of three imports caught up with us (against Guildford).”

Dutiaume admitted that the team have not learned as a group and continue to turn over the puck in key areas.

He added: “I make excuses for these guys all the time but I feel, at times, that we lack that killer instinct that I see teams put us away with.”

Meanwhile Dundee Stars have signed experienced forward Matt Carter for the remainder of the season.

The Canadian joins the Stars from Polish side Cracovia Krakow where he spent some of this season after leaving Austrian club EHC Lustenau.

The left winger has previously iced in the Elite League with Nottingham Panthers back in the 2016-17 campaign and won the Continental Cup with the English side.

The 32-year-old brings plenty of experience to the Stars with stints in other leagues such as the East Coast Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, French League and Usports.

Head coach Omar Pacha said: “Matt is a player that is extremely hungry and he had great success in France. He is not afraid to go to dirty areas to score goals and will be a great addition.”

Stars have released forwards Justin Maylan and Elgin Pearce.

Todd Dutiaume has lamented Flyers’ lack of “killer instinct”.