The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Coach calls for Stars to make most of home advantage in push for play-offs
Head coach’s call in bid for play-off place
Dundee Stars head coach Omar Pacha wants his side to make the most of home ice advantage in a bid to secure an Elite League play-off place.
The side are away to Glasgow Clan tomorrow night as they look to make amends for last week’s 3-0 loss at Manchester Storm.
Pacha, without defenceman Kris Inglis and winger Alex Schoenborn tonight, said road games will define his side’s season – but it’s home matches where he wants Stars to hit the points trail as they target the play-offs.
He said: “Road games are very, very important and they are going to be defining our season right now.
“We still have seven home games left but our next two are on the road and against big rivals in Glasgow and Fife.
“But we have to make sure our away form is up to par for the next few games and sometimes winning on the road is very difficult.
“It is never easy but I would rather we did the hard job now and then use our home ice to our advantage.”
The Canadian coach also hopes his special teams will be effective after stalling against Manchester.
Pacha added: “At this time of the year we are going to be in a lot of tight games, so we have to make sure we are still playing efficiently at the back.
“Our special teams will also have to do well. I thought against Glasgow last week our penalty kill was very good and I know we conceded but it was OK and there are still areas of our powerplay that can be better.
“Obviously in Manchester it wasn’t very affective but it has been good at times this year and we just want to make sure that it picks over this last 15-game stretch.”
Clan snapped a six-game losing streak with a 3-2 win over struggling Fife Flyers last week but will be without four key players for the visit of Dundee.
Meanwhile, Flyers boss Jeff Hutchins yesterday called for fans to continue to back the club, who prop up the league after a nightmare run of poor results.
It’s 12 games since Flyers celebrated a win and tonight they entertain Coventry
Blaze, who are guided by former Fife favourite Danny Stewart.
Canadian-born Hutchins, a former Great Britain international, has faced adversity before as a player with now defunct Edinburgh Capitals and as a player-coach with Stars.
The Edinburgh-based ex-player took to Twitter to thank the club’s supporters for their backing.
He said: “This isn’t easy for anyone involved with the club.
“Please continue to support us through thick and thin.
“No one in that locker room is happy with the results and this wears greatly on us all.”
Carlo Finucci, the club’s all-time points gatherer in the Elite League era, said: “I don’t think any team goes into a season expecting to be sitting in last place, especially the players that we have in our dressing room.
“This form that started just after Christmas with 12 losses is absolutely unacceptable and something I don’t really have any words left to put my finger on why.
“There are a lot of variables and it seems to be one of them each night that’s costing us – there’s no one thing, but we’re definitely getting bitten for whichever one it is.”
Stars face-off at 7pm, while Fife get under way at 7.15pm.