Flyers Mid-Week Update 03/03/2015

OK, I've not done one of these for a while but a combination of being off work and being bored beyond recognition I have decided to pull some stuff together. Two games over the weekend for the Flyers and a two completely different results. A 5-1 victory over the Edinburgh Capitals means that the Flyers maintain their record of being unbeaten at home against the Caps since January 2014. Head coach Todd Dutiaume - not for the first time - comments that a lack of concentration meant that the Flyers lost the shutout for Kevin Regan. This has been a consistent theme in the games against Edinburgh but they have been comfortable at home against Richard Hartman's men. This has perhaps been more of an issue when playing some of top teams in the league. Todd Dutiaume and Jordan Fultons' post game comments with Ali McLaren are available on Flyers TV:

It's important to remember that ice hockey is a family sport and foul and abusive language is not permitted. With that in mind, here's eight and half minutes of fans swearing:

To be fair, no-one used the flash on their camera. Five good goals from the Flyers, Niko Suoraniemi with his second goal of the season on a superb rush up the ice. Jordan Fulton once again showing why is among the best agitators in the league getting under the skin of the Capitals defence and worthy of his man of the match purely for that.

Todd mentioned in his post match comments that the Flyers penalty kill has been strong this year and it really has, ranking forth in the league:

Only Cardiff, Nottingham and Sheffield ranking higher than them. Remarkably, the Belfast Giants sit bottom of the table - this no doubt a huge factor in their tumble down the league standings this season.

Sunday, saw a different game entirely. A 5-2 loss against the league leading Braehead Clan. An honest Danny Stewart laments the lack of focus and - just as Todd did the night before - complains about the number of minor penalties that the club has taken. Post match he spoke with Ali McLaren:

FLYERS TALK: Danny Stewart talks to @niceguyali following the game at Braehead. https://t.co/b8nrXUDHnU
— Fife Flyers (@FifeFlyers) March 1, 2015

Ali asked about Nickerson and Fitzgeralds' fight, to which Danny commented that the outcome didn't have an impact on the game either way. Which really begs the question, what is the point? NIckerson is a solid D-man who is most effective when he is on the ice rather than in the penalty box. When you look at the much maligned DOPS, there job is to punish and ultimately reduce plays that are reckless and can cause serious injury. With that in mind why, is fighting a part of the game?

The fight is at the start of the highlights package from Clan TV:

Who won? I'll tell you who won, Braehead - 5-2. The fight was irrelevant, the 59 minutes that followed impacted the game and the Flyers came up short. I have to disagree with Danny Stewart's "honest" assessment of the game, the Flyers make mistakes in most games but the Clan are among the teams that are good enough to take advantage of these mistakes. The Clan aren't on the brink of a title win because the Flyers make mistakes at the Braehead Arena.

Moving on from last weekend, the Flyers need to win hockey games. Todd Dutiaume was in the Sun this week:

Todd Dutiaume on @FifeFlyers @officialEIHL play off push in today's @scotsunsport pic.twitter.com/zD1U0qRAlD
— The Puck Stops Here (@PuckStopsHere67) March 3, 2015

            
I have no idea what this says, but I imagine from the headline it's something about focusing on the playoff chase. The league table shows how close it really is:

As both our coaches have said, it's better to have money in the bank than games in hand but it still means that the next 5 games are going to be tense contests.

In case you missed it, the Flyers have released the shortlist for their goal of the season as part of the end of season awards. Here are the finalists:

This is surely a formality, Chris Wands is the clear winner! Ned Lukacevic scores a mean penalty shot, but they aren't goals, so it doesn't count for me.