Flyers aim to turn up heat on visiting Flames

Guildford Flames will face an icy blast from fired-up Fife Flyers when the first whistle sounds at Kirkcaldy in their Elite League clash tonight (7.15pm).

The English side face a lengthy bus ride for this key clash with Fife fourth in the table with 32 points from 26 games and fifth-placed Guildford on 27 points from 24 games.

Guildford come north on a downer having lost their last two games and Flames also have a score to settle as they will undoubtedly feel hard done by having lost twice to Fife in their own rink so far this term.

Particularly hard to take was the 4-1 defeat on September 18 when the home side outshot Fife 51-22. Flames also lost 6-5 at home on October 14, with Paul Crowder netting the game-winner.

Hutchins conceded that Flames carry considerable firepower with John Dunbar at number three in the league scoring charts with 34 points and teammate Kruise Reddick fourth with 33 points.

Crowder is second with 34 points and Fife are desperate for a win in front of their own fans having lost their last game 4-2 at bottom club Milton Keynes Lightning on Sunday.

That followed a 5-2 home win 24 hours earlier over Coventry Blaze.

Hutchins said that the coaching staff will stress the importance of Fife sticking to their system.

He said: “When we do that we get results.”

The experienced Canadian added: “It’s a one-game weekend for us and it is important we leave nothing out there.

“There are no second chances to put things right if we end up on the wrong side on Saturday.”

Everybody is fit according to Hutchins, who added: “It boils down to everybody doing their job and doing it right.

“They have a long bus journey and our job is to impose ourselves early and put them under pressure.”

Paul Crowder: netted Flyers’ winner in the October meeting with Guildford.