Braehead Away (17.12) Belfast Home (18.12)

[IX2T311]

This could be a tougher weekend than I first thought to be honest; Braehead are no pushovers despite being as low in the table as us, especially on home ice, and Belfast seem to have been getting the better of us all season.
I'd look for two points over the two games to be a success, and any more than that is just gravy. I'd want to take a regulation win from Braehead as we're so closely tied, but we all know I want doesn't get, so I'm just going to hope instead.

[jen]

We are travelling up to Braehead, not going to hold my breath for a win we don't usually win up there.

[IX2T311]

If we are going to beat them this year then this is the week to do it, our current form is better than it has been all season and we're as tightly tied for bottom as possible, I'm actually feeling surprisingly optimistic about this weekend.

[takina]

It will be interesting to see how Braehead react to their defeat in the CC, do they rally or do they fold, I think each could be equally likely. If we can shake off our bus legs quickly then I too am reasonably optimistic that we could grab a point or two.

Giants are hard to predict and we have taken a few points off them so far this season but they seem to be having a run of form recently and look a little bit more resilient than they did in the early season. For sure the top 3 look to have a little bit of breathing space between them and the chasing pack so for sure they'll be keen to secure both points.

Clearly I'd like all 4 points but if I had to settle on just two, a clear regulation win over Braehead would be my obvious choice

Safe travels and an enjoyable night (Braehead are my favourite fans, well 2nd favourite I mean ...) to everyone making the trip

[Stuart Coles]

Going to be a tough one - we have the ability in the roster to be able to get four points, but can they keep stringing the performances together. I'd set a target of 2 points for the weekend, more than that would be a happy bonus.

[hidehi]

Well that was a nice surprise. Was Liam's first our first SH of the season? Hope there is something left in the tank for tomorrow.

[takina]

Brilliant result. Almeida (1+2) and Syner (2+2) on the night really do seem to have helped Blaze rediscover their mojo. Good to see Bergman get some reward after weeks of hard grind. Long trip home and a tough opposition tomorrow but for me a 4 point weekend really is not out of the question. Danny and the team should feel happy tonight, a good job well done

[IX2T311]

Well the two points we needed we got, regardless of what happens at home tomorrow I'll be happy with our weekend. I'm not sure if the league table is updated on the website but I'm fairly certain that puts us cleanly out of tenth? We scored on all four lines again tonight (I think), and Godfrey has scored in four(?) consecutive games now, which is also a nice bit of progress, along with Bergman scoring I think we're really looking to have turned that long corner.

Belfast could be a hard game tomorrow, but hopefully after a long trip over here we'll be able to catch them a little flat footed and get an early lead, be a shame if we're having to chase the game. Also if anyone heard the post match interviews I think you can hear the relief in Danny's voice that we're finally a coherent team. Odds on both teams are tied at 5/6 (which is a pretty good sign for us to be classed as being on even terms with Belfast).

[fanta]

We are 8th only a point off 4th. Godfrey didn't score in Nottingham so scored 3 in 4.

[dudestar]

Sounds like a great win. Belfast will be a hard game, but definitely within our grasp. I'm looking forward to this, both teams had good, High scoring games last night, so fingers crossed for more of that. Also, good to see TJ and Almeida doing what they were brought in to do, and thank god bergmans finally potted one! I'm going 6-4 blaze, with an EN. I think, depending on results, we could be anywhere between fourth and ninth by this time tomorrow, so it's all to play for.

[takina]

Well that was a let down. I thought Brian Stewart, Bergman, Jorgenson, Liam & Kevin all played well. Klotz remains under utilised in my opinion and Robinson should never have iced - turnover shift after shift, if he wasn't 100% then rest him, he was an absolute liability tonight. If my dog was suffering as badly as Marqquardt is, I'd shoot it out of sympathy, he looked like a rabbit in headlights .....

Although the game was already lost, I'd have pulled Stewie when Keefe was in the box just to try to bust the shut out and send Belfast away with a minor slap.
Overall, a real disappointment tonight, one decent period (2nd) one so so period and a 3rd period of rank sub standard mediocrity.

I don't think that Belfast were invincible, we just helped them to look like they were

[IX2T311]

Was telling myself before the game that regardless of the result I'll be pleased with the team this weekend, but after seeing how we played I'm quite disappointed, I'm glad we took the important two off Braehead but it's a shame that we let ourselves down with such a sub-par performance,

Tonight also helped me decide I'd like to be rid of Robinson, he doesn't input enough and we can't keep holding out on him because he might turn good as he did last season, if we have any money in the kitty I'd want him gone. Bergman is continuing form and looking very strong with and without the puck, but not a goal scoring threat, and I thought our defence tonight, for the most part, was exceptional.

If we were to lose tonight I wouldn't have been upset by any means, they're a stronger team than us, have more money, and better players, but within ourselves I can't help but worry that we're falling back into the same game we were playing a few months back. All we can do is hope that it's a minor blip in an otherwise changed team.

[fleece]

It's been 10 weeks since Blaze were shut out at home; asking fans to air the bear after Blaze's first goal was probably tempting fate!

[jen]

Seeing the team after the Braehead game a lot of players are suffering from a flu type bug. Robinson should never have been re-signed this season, he is more of a liability than a help.

[takina]

I assume that the thinking was he would pick up this season where he left off last but clearly that's not been the case - on EIHL website he's 63rd in the points charts on 4+9 from 23 games. Syner at 64th is on the same (4+9) but from 13 games. Robinson, Marquardt and Cantin don't impress me at all and despite our recent run, I would be looking (finances permitting) to see if we could further strengthen our squad

[fleece]

Dec 19, 2016 21:27:02 GMT takina said:

I assume that the thinking was he would pick up this season where he left off last but clearly that's not been the case - on EIHL website he's 63rd in the points charts on 4+9 from 23 games. Syner at 64th is on the same (4+9) but from 13 games. Robinson, Marquardt and Cantin don't impress me at all and despite our recent run, I would be looking (finances permitting) to see if we could further strengthen our squad

Syner is on 13 points, but it's from only 10 games.

Robinson is a bit of 'the elephant in the room' in our house! He's my daughters favourite, and won't have a bad word said against him. Luckily she doesn't come on here

He really doesn't justify his name on the team sheet, I would prefer to see Klotz more than Robinson, at least he puts the fear of god into some opposition players (Boxhill's flinch when Klotz went boo to him on Sunday was priceless).

Robinson, really nice bloke and all that, but sorry, he's not doing it (anything).