Peterborough Phantoms aim to upset the formbook in National Cup Final

The city men take on Telford over two legs in the final of the NIHL National Cup in the coming days as they bid to follow up their treble of last term with more glory.

The two teams meet at Planet Ice tomorrow (March 6, 7.30pm) ahead of a Wednesday return clash in Shropshire (March 11, 7.45pm).

Table-topping Telford have won all four league clashes between the sides this season - including a 6-4 success last Saturday - but Koulikov feels that is of no relevance in the heat of cup-final battle.

Phantoms were also beaten 8-6 by Telford at Planet Ice in early January in what Koulikov called a ‘freak’ game with their other two meetings both going the way of the Tigers following penalty shots.

“The league games and the results mean absolutely nothing,” said Koulikov. “We’ve had guys missing for most of them and they were all very tight scorelines.

“Even the freak game at home where we were 6-0 down after two periods ended up being close in the end, but what happened in the past doesn’t matter now.

“It is all about Friday and Wednesday and ensuring the competitive level goes through the roof for 120 minutes.

“It will take mental strength and hockey guts, as well as quality, to come out on top, but it’s something we’re all desperate to do.

“There is no better feeling than winning trophies and these are the sort of big occasions that coaches, players and fans are desperate to be involved in.

“We want to make memories that will stay with us for the rest of our lives.

“We were able to do it last season three times and hopefully we can do it again. It’s virtually the same group of players and I’m sure they will draw on those experiences to help them.

“The support we received in those finals - and the semi-final of this cup against Hull - was incredible. Hopefully everyone will be there again and be as loud as they possibly can. We’ll need the fans to stick with us through thick and thin as momentum will swing both ways, but I know they can be our sixth man.”

Phantoms have been dealt a series of injury blows ahead of the final.

Captain James Ferrara and young defenceman Brad Bowering were both hurt in the loss to Telford last Saturday before Glenn Billing and Nathan Long picked up knocks during the Sunday defeat to Bracknell.

Koulikov added: “It’s obviously not ideal to be without players for a cup final and we’re keeping out fingers crossed they will all make it.

“We’ve battled through most of the season with guys missing and we know how to dig really deep.

“I can promise we’ll lay everything on the line for 120 minutes.”

The two legs of the cup final sandwich a weekend of league games for Phantoms. They host Hull on Saturday (March 7, 7pm) before going to Raiders on Sunday (5.15pm).