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Ice hockey preview: A massive weekend for Allen’s Phantoms
Ice hockey action from Phantoms v Swindon Wildcats Richard Bentham. Photo: Alan Storer/Peterborough ET
THE Play-offs start here for Peterborough Phantoms.
That’s the message from Phantoms coach Chris Allen ahead of two massive away games against Sheffield Steeldogs tonight (Saturday) and Telford Tigers on Sunday.
With just 18 games left this season Phantoms are lying outside the English Premier League Play-Offs places and Allen knows his team are running out of time to close the gap.
So from now until the end of March the city will be playing knock-out hockey week in, week out as they bid to make the grade.
“I have played in some leagues where the play-offs last for a few weeks but in the EPL it is just a couple of games so it can all be over quickly,” said Allen
“But we are in the situation where we have to see the next 18 games as a play-off series and go out every night and play with that kind of intensity.
“That will be our approach going into these games at the weekend. We know it is going to be tough but there is no doubt we need to improve our away form.
“At the Peterborough Arena we have been a lot better lately but we have lost five in a row on the road and we really need to turn that round if we want to start making progress.
“These two games at the weekend are the start of a five game run in seven days so it will be important to us to pick up some points and give ourselves a bit of momentum.”
Phantoms can expect a tough battle in Sheffield after the acrimonious clash between the sides at the Peterborough Arena last month.
On that occasion Richard Bentham and Joe Graham both dropped the gloves and Steeldogs coach Andre Payette has promised pay-back at IceSheffield tonight.
But Allen has warned his players to leave something in the tank for Sunday’s game in Telford, a venue where Phantoms have enjoyed the upper hand so far this season.
He added: “Both these games are going to be tough. We know what to expect in Sheffield and we will be ready for that and we can’t take Telford lightly either.
“They have recently beaten both Guildford Flames and Sheffield Steeldogs and they will want to avenge the 9-5 defeat we gave them recently.
“But we are feeling pretty good at the moment, myself and Jeff Glowa are carrying knocks but other than that we are fine and at the moment we go into every game looking forward to the challenge.”
Saturday opponents: Sheffield Steeldogs.
Venue: IceSheffield (face-off 7.30pm).
Coach: Andre Payette.
Form: Steeldogs won both their games against the Swindon Wildcats last weekend to breath life back into their EPL title bid.
But Phantoms beat them comfortably last time the two teams met and it may just be the case that the series tide has turned against the Yorkshire side.
Dangerman: Sheffield are far from being a one-man team but Janis Ozolins is key to their hopes.
The Latvian now has 34 goals to his name and is by far and away the Steeldogs biggest goal threat.
Sunday opponents: Telford Tigers.
Venue: Telford Ice Rink (face-off 5.30pm).
Coach: Tom Watkins.
Form: The Tigers may be 12 points off the play-off places but it would be a fool who wrote off their chances just yet.
Two wins in their last three games against the Steeldogs and Guildford Flames shows the Tigers still have plenty of bite.
Dangerman: Last time Phantoms played Telford Scott McKenzie scored twice and he will probably be the one to watch on home ice too.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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