Capitals not fooled by Fife's poor form

Edinburgh Capitals' interim coach Mike D'Orazio wants to see his team pick up a much needed two points in Fife tonight '“ but doesn't expect their task to be any easier following Flyers' recent success.

Caly Robertson, Edinburgh Capitals. Pic: Ian Coyle

The Flyers won the Gardiner Conference two weeks ago and head into the rearranged fixture, which fell victim to the ‘Beast from the East’ weather front that affected most of the country last Wednesday, on a poor run of form.

This fixture begins a run of six games in nine days as the regular season begins to wind down, with a trip to Braehead to follow tomorrow and D’Orazio knows he’ll have to manage his team and his players with such a congested fixture list.

“Fife may have won the Gardiner Conference, but as professional players, they won’t take things any easier,” the Caps coach said. “They still have a point to prove and while they are down in numbers, they have good supporting guys in that team.

“We have to be prepared for their ‘A’ game plus we haven’t played well in Fife this year so we’re hoping to turn the tide. They’re a good club that know how to win so we’ll have to be ready.

“We’ve got six games in nine days coming up so we had a day of rest and recuperation on Monday. It’s tough the amount of games we have coming up, but we can manage it with practice times and body maintenance, which the guys know all about.

“We are getting some guys back, but we play two and a half lines anyway so it’s going to be a big ask for the main players who play a lot of minutes. Jock (Hay) and I will manage that as the game goes on.”

D’Orazio will still be without forward Callum Boyd and netminder Tyler Beskorowany through injury, which means another chance for teenage forward Callum Robertson, who scored twice in Sunday’s 9-4 loss to Dundee Stars.

Edinburgh’s boss admits he won’t push extra responsibility on his shoulders, but insists Robertson will get his chance and hopes to see him pop up with another two on 
Wednesday when they go to Kirkcaldy.

He added: “Of course, you have to now be careful of giving Callum extra responsibility after a special night on Sunday. He did have some success, but to play in the top two lines in the Elite League, you have to be consistent.

“He will get a chance and get ice time. Whether that’s in the first or second lines is doubtful. He will get the opportunity to show what he’s got, but hopefully he can get another two in Fife on Tuesday in his 
hometown.”