DEESIDE DRAGONS’ will be looking to kickstart another winning Division One North run during what will be a pivotal weekend.
It’s all about teams in the play-off picture from the perspective of the third-placed Dragons, who tackle Hull Jets and Solihull Barons, the sides placed fourth and fifth in the current standings.
Deeside will head off to Hull tomorrow, before they play host to the Barons around 24 hours later.
Dragons have suffered just one defeat in their last nine matches, but that came with their 6-4 reverse at the hands of Nottingham Lions last weekend.
Reflecting on the eight-match winning run, Deeside’s assistant head coach Matt Compton said: “We have proved what we’re capable of.
“We know we can put a string of games together. We’ve just got to get back this weekend.
“There’s no need to panic or implode. We know what we can do.
“We can work hard and get back to it, and get back to that winning run.
“We are capable of beating anyone in this league. We can put it right this weekend against Hull.”
A tight first period concluded with Deeside 1-0 ahead against Nottingham.
Jared Dickinson grabbed that goal around the midway point of the period.
Ross Kennedy was on hand to double the visitors’ advantage, before Nottingham opened their account for the evening courtesy of a power play strike with 11 minutes of the second period remaining.
A further power play goal levelled things up, before Garry Simpson struck to regain the lead for Deeside.
Lions tied things up at three-apiece in the final two minutes of the period, but there was still time for the Dragons to regain the lead through Kennedy with 37 seconds remaining before the final break.
It was Nottingham who would finish on top, though, making it 4-4 with some 13 minutes left to play.
The hosts would then go on to add two more to their tally in the final four minutes to seal victory.
“It (defeat) makes you even hungrier,” added Compton.
“It’s a reality check, because we have got to be on it. We can go again and put another set of results together.”
Focusing on the away day to Hull Jets, Compton said: “They’re a mix of youth and experience as well.
“We have got to make sure we are on it. We have been there a few times last year.
“We lost and then we lost in overtime. It’s a good place to play, Hull, a good rink and good facilities.
“We have got to make sure we come out the right side of it.”
Deeside have already tackled Solihull this season, with the Dragons claiming a 7-2 success on their travels in mid-October.
Jakub Hajek grabbed a hat-trick during a statement triumph for the away side, who also had Jake Witkowski (2), Charles Phillips and Matt Wainwright on target.
There’s a crucial spell of action on the horizon and Compton added: “You have got to beat the teams around you, which gives you momentum going into Christmas.
“We have got the ability to go unbeaten until Christmas.
“Make sure we’re winning much more than we are losing.”
Tomorrow’s other fixture: Leeds v Billingham. Sunday: Blackburn v Nottingham; Sheffield v Leeds; Widnes v Whitley.
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