Flyers must show they have what it takes to win

ICE HOCKEY: Assistant coach urges Fife team to slay Giants and stay top of league

Jeff Hutchins argued last night that if success-hungry Fife Flyers want to stay at the top of the Elite League then they have to beat leading teams.

Early-season pace-setters Fife have an opportunity to prove that they are capable when they host second placed Belfast Giants tonight.

The statistics are simple. Fife have 20 points from 12 matches and Belfast have the same number of points but have played two games more.

Hutchins would love to emerge victorious and create a two-point gap over Belfast going into this weekend’s games.

Nottingham Panthers, who were beaten 7-5 at Kirkcaldy on October 20, are third with 20 points from 17 starts, with Cardiff Devils breathing down the necks of the top three with 18 points from only 10 games.

They won in Glasgow on Wednesday, Clan losing out by the only goal of the game, but Devils are the form team with seven straight wins.

Hutchins reported that Fife will be at full-strength with former Manchester Storm forward Marcus Basara again in the line-up.

He replaces crocked Chase Schaber and recorded his first goal in Sunday’s 4-1 home win over bottom club Milton Keynes Lightning.

Basara also assisted on Fife’s go-ahead goal after 41 minutes, five minutes before he netted.

Belfast won 3-2 at Nottingham, coming from 2-0 down after 43 minutes to win in overtime with Darcy Murphy opening their scoring followed by the game-tying goal from Dustin Johner.

And it was Murphy who scored the winner after 3min 40sec of extra-time giving the Northern Irish side their second straight victory.

Murphy is third in the club’s individual points charts with 14 from 13 games (eight goals and six assists).

Other danger men are Blair Riley with 18 points from six goals and 12 assists in 14 games and David Rutherford who has netted on four occasions but set up 14 goals.

Fife’s top points gatherer, Paul Crowder, has 23 points from 12 games (eight goals and 15 assists) with Brett Bulmer and Carlo Finucci next best on 18 points.

Bulmer has eight goals and 10 assists with Finucci on five goals and 13 assists from 12 starts. Bulmer has played in 10 games.

Hutchins added: “If we want to stay at the top then we have to beat teams like Belfast.

“This will be a real test for us but we want to compete with the best and Belfast are among the best in this league.”

Fife Flyers assistant coach Jeff Hutchins believes his team can make a big statement with victory over Belfast Giants tonight.