BASINGSTOKE, UK – Nothing but a four point weekend will keep alive the Basingstoke Bison’s hopes of reaching the final four of the EPL Cup.
Last season, the Herd were beaten finalists in the same competition, but their chances of repeating that this campaign seem to be fading fast.
This weekend, they face a visit from arch rivals Guildford Flames on Saturday night, followed by a trip to the Telford Tigers 24 hours later.
It would be an ideal time for the Bison to record their first maximum points haul of the season and would extend their current winning streak to four games.
Basingstoke beat Guildford in two exhibition games, but on the first EPL encounter in Surrey, the Bison suffered a crash and burn performance losing 7-2 after suffering a 5-0 reverse in the opening 20 minutes.
The visitors only broke Mark Lee’s shut-out three minutes from time so the Herd will want some pay back.
The Flames have a few injury worries ahead of the game, but on paper have one of the strongest offensive units in the league.
That includes former Bison fan’s favourites Greg Chambers who was Basingstoke’s all-time leading scorer during their time in the Elite League.
Guildford have won five of the last nine league meetings in Basingstoke the last five by a one goal margin.
On Sunday, the Bison travel to Telford and silenced the Tigers’ roar last month, when the sides met in Basingstoke recording their biggest win of the season 7-2.
It is sure to be not such an easy ride this time around, but last year the Herd won all their three games in the Tigers’ liar.
“We are looking for four points this weekend, but we know it is not going to be easy.
“Guildford have a strong hockey team and like us are probably not where they thought they would be at this stage of the season.
“We know if we allow them to skate at us they will be dangerous, but our D in recent games has been playing a lot better than at the start of the season,” said Basingstoke player/coach Moria.
“Telford are a team who can beat anyone and have a strong work ethic. We have to be ready for that if we are going to win, added Moria.
Last weekend, Basingstoke has just the one game and looked to be cruising to an easy win over visiting lowly Peterborough Phantoms as they led 3-0 after the first period after Steve Moria, Marcel Petran and Jacob Heron all scored.
Not for the first time this season, the home side let their opponents back into the contest as Maris Ziedins scored a brace.
Despite out-shooting the visitors 56-23 in regulation time the Bison could not find a way past Peterborough man-of-the-match Stephen Wall in the last 40 minutes. The visitors Jeff Glowa then converted just one of their three shots in the final session to send the game into overtime.
It was left to former Phantom and Bison’s leading scorer Joe Miller to break the visitors hearts with the winner as Wall was beaten with shot number 61 of the night.
Contact the author Graham.Merry@Prohockeynews.com
You must be logged in to post a comment.