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The Canberra Knights believe the form book should be thrown out the window before Saturday’s do-or-die clash with the Sydney Ice Dogs.
In the two previous clashes between them this year the Ice Dogs have outscored the Knights 17-5, with the most recent fixture being a 9-1 thumping in the first week of May.
Since then the Knights have undergone several roster changes, not only increasing their offensive prowess, but concreting the goaltending ranks.
Knights defensive enforcer Aaron Clayworth trusts these changes will be enough to defeat the Ice Dogs, who have won their last six fixtures.
“Last time we played the Ice Dogs we didn’t have or new goalie Jason Linder or our new forward Anthony Ciraulo so that’s going to make a big difference. Our first line is firing with our three imports,” he said.
This will lighten the load on Addison DeBoer and Brit Oullette who have combined for 51 goals in the season.
The Ice Dogs will be confident they can shut down the lethal duo, having conceded only 70 goals from their 21 fixtures, which is the fewest allowed across the league.
The challenge for the Ice Dogs will be stopping the Knights on their home ice where they haven’t lost since the end of June.
“Our four wins at home have been awesome, we have a great fan base and are getting a lot of support. We are playing with a little bit of attitude now, we know that we can beat teams and that is making the game a little easier for us.”
To do this Ice Dogs will rely on their dynamic duo of Robson and Monaghan who have scored 52 points in their 34 combined games of the 2011 season.
Saturday’s fixture is the biggest in a packed weekend of AIHL action, with the Ice Dogs fighting to claim second place at the end of the regular season while the side from the capital know that nothing short of a win will keep them in the running for their first Goodall Cup.
The plot thickens with the two sides having combined for only one overtime appearance in the 2011 season, proving they are both able to get results when required.
Despite the importance, Knights head coach David Roinga has implored the Knights to play their natural game, holding the belief that the only way to success for the rest of the season is to take it on a game by game basis.
Regardless of the outcome Clayworth knows it’s pointless to ponder what might have been.
“We want the win for the fans… These are the cards that we’ve been dealt with, we just have to try and finish out games.”
The puck will drop at 5.30 at the Phillip Swimming and Ice Skating centre on Saturday