Matsos: Every second counts

Heading into Saturday night's showdown against Coventry, Dave Matsos has been focusing on thwarting the Blaze powerplay.

Of course the best way to stop the powerplay is to stay out of the box, but when the inevitable happens PK units need to step up.

And in an interview with skysports.com, Matsos revealed how the Steelers have been preparing.

“This week in practice we’ve emphasised the importance of making line changes on the penalty kill,” he said.

“If you’re on the ice for 15 seconds and you’re not tired, it doesn’t matter – you’re coming off the ice and we’re going to get fresh legs on. If we can make those quick changes and get through five units in a two-minute powerplay it will be a very positive thing for our team.“

The Steelers are one of only two teams to beat Coventry in the league this season, winning 5-1 at home on September 13.

However, Matsos is expecting a much closer game this time as he goes head-to-head with Paul Thompson.

“Everybody seems to raise their level of play when Coventry comes into town,” Matsos said.

“We know that we need to stay out of the box, but you’re never going to make it through the game without taking some minor penalties. The way that their powerplay is set up, I think our penalty kill has to be very active, very aggressive and very quick.”

Michel, my belle

"Michelle, my belle.
Sont les mots qui vont tres bien ensemble,
tres bien ensemble."
- The Beatles - "Michelle"

Two weeks ago elite hockey today originally broke the story that Michel Robinson had been released by the Capitals. Well, two weeks are up.

But Robinson's not going anywhere just yet.

The Capitals have announced that Robinson will remain with the team to enable his replacement Pasi Raitanen to make the transition to Edinburgh.

Last year it was Sylvain Deschatelets, now Robinson. These French Canadians just don't want to leave!

However, it's doubtful that Robinson will repeat Deschatelets' feat. Unless Raitanen or another EIHL stopper gets injured, it's very unlikely that Robinson will remain in the league too long, purely for cost reasons.

Given his previous numbers and success in Italy, Robinson was expected to be a top tier goalie in the EIHL. However, the struggling Capitals and injury concerns haven't done him any favours. He's clearly got the talent to be a number one in the league, but sometimes things just don't work out.

Double or Nothing

This week's featured game on Sky Sports sees the Devils visit the Panthers in a buy one, get one free match-up at the Nottingham Arena.

Thursday night's contest counts towards both the Elite League and the Challenge Cup. This is where the phrase "four-point game" really does apply.

With Cardiff coach Gerad Adams aiming to double his money, he'll be turning to goalie Peter Aubry to shut down the Panthers.

In the last meeting between the teams on October 19 the Devils prevailed 1-0 in overtime thanks to a 38-save shutout from Aubry, who was between the pipes when Cardiff last won the trophy in 2005/06.

“Peter’s been really solid since he came back to Cardiff and of course he won the cup a couple of years ago,” Adams said, in an interview with skysports.com.

“He’s a great goalie to have in these situations. There’s no question that we are only as good as he is on the night. With the style that we play we can tend to give up shots and we need him at his best and he knows that.”

Nottingham, the reigning Challenge Cup champions, warmed up for the clash with an exhibition match in Switzerland, while the Devils won both of their league fixtures on the weekend.

“We’re really happy with where we are right now heading into it,” Adams added.

“It’ll be a good test for us and provide a reference point for us later in the year when we get into the playoffs. We’re really excited about playing in a big game like this - it’s great to be a part of.”

With such high stakes riding on the outcome, Adams knows that it's all or nothing.

“It’s gonna be a do or die game,” Adams said.

“I think Coventry look pretty set. Whoever wins has a big advantage – it will probably decide which of the two teams go through between us two.”

A win for either team would give them one foot in the next round, although the other members of Group B - Basingstoke and Hull - still have a say in the matter.

Belfast and Manchester are safely through from Group A.

Here one minute, gone the next

Well, at least Jeff Hutchins had time for a cup of coffee in Edinburgh.

Six games and eight points later the Hutchins era in Murrayfield is all over and now he's back on Tyneside, where Lee Ryder of the Evening Chronicle thinks he'll get a cold reception:

"And, in another twist, the return of unpopular (skater) Jeff Hutchins will also prompt a mixed response from season ticket holders."

After Hutchins' quick move to the Vipers, Capitals player-coach Doug Christiansen remained philosophical.

“I’ve absolutely no ill will towards him and I told Jeff that I wouldn’t hold him back,” admitted Christiansen, in an interview with skysports.com.

"I’ve know him for 10 years and he came up here to do a job to help turnaround our season and we won three of the games that he started. So he helped us out a lot but on the other side of the coin it’s disappointing that he’s going to a team that we’re trying to catch like Newcastle."

After elite hockey today recently reported that the Capitals had put goalie Michel Robinson on two weeks notice, Christiansen said he was considering further transactions to improve the Capitals’ roster.

“What we do now depends on financial constraints,” he said.

“We’re going to do our absolute best to put the best team on the ice and it’s my job is to rebuild the team as quickly as possible.”

Layin' the Smack Down

If you've seen Cardiff's Derek Campbell play this year then you've seen one of the premier heavy hitters in the Elite League.

Campbell's right up there with the likes of Newcastle's towering slab of granite Chris McAllister or Manchester's whirlwind winger Kyle Bruce when it comes to separating other players from their senses.

Campbell notched a six-point weekend and no doubt threw in a string of checks to boot in the road wins against the Bison and Capitals, showing that he can hit the scoreboard just as hard.

But what's the secret to a good check? What makes a good hit? How does Campbell do it?

"Just staying nice and low and exploding through the check," Campbell told the Cardiff Devils game programme.

"Trying to get as much speed as you can without being called for a charge. Obviously, hitting the gym helps."

Campbell's fellow glass rattler Bruce agrees.

"You want to stay low and if your legs are straight your centre of gravity will be higher," said Bruce, in an interview with the Manchester Phoenix game programme.

"You need strong legs and a strong core, which is what we’ve been working on lately in the gym – strengthening our core muscles.

"You want to catch guys when they’re off guard and not expecting it. You have to stay low to generate the power to knock them off their feet. Obviously, you don’t want to go straight for a guy’s head."