Richardson eyes an unbeaten run

DISAPPOINTMENT was written all over Nottingham Panthers' faces as they stormed off the ice after their cup victory over Sheffield Steelers.

With another huge weekend ahead in their quest for the league title, they must take that all-or-nothing attitude into the rest of the season.

Panthers, who suffered a blow to their title aspirations with two defeats in Belfast last weekend, entertain a resurgent Hull Stingrays outfit at the National Ice Centre tomorrow (7pm) and travel to table-topping Coventry Blaze in the game of the weekend on Sunday (6pm).

And veteran centre Bruce Richardson insists it is not beyond Panthers to go on a 20-game winning run and scoop all three major trophies.

"We can't dwell on the Sheffield game, though it was disappointing to give up those late goals after leading four-nil," said Richardson.

"But we'll take a 4-2 win on the road every time.

"The important thing now is winning the next one.

"Every game from now is a must-win and we have to go into them, no matter who we are playing, as if it was the championship decider.

"We have 14 league games left, plus a possible three in the cup and three more in the play-offs.

"If you ask me if I believe we can win all 20, I have to say yes – I think it is possible."

But Richardson says they are looking no further than the next game and expect rock-bottom Hull will prove to be better than their lowly league position.

"Everyone is looking at the Coventry game but we have to beat Hull first and they are a much-improved team," he said.

"Hull are playing really well since they made a goalie change and they have put a good team together.

"Injuries have hurt them throughout the season but they have still caused a few surprises and we have to be ready for them.

"We are not worrying about Sunday yet, that's for sure."

Richardson's new line-mate, latest signing Jay Henderson, signalled his arrival in Nottingham with the opening goal in the 4-2 Challenge Cup win over Steelers in midweek.

And Richardson believes fellow-Canadian Henderson will improve the more games he gets under his belt.

He said: "To say he hasn't been on the ice much for three weeks he did well.

"But the only way to get into game-shape is to play games and they're coming along quickly, which will be good for him."

Henderson, who flew into the country on Monday after the birth of his second child, agreed.

He said: "My conditioning is not quite where it should be right now, but it's been a long couple of weeks for me, with the baby and getting ready to come here.

"Practice is one thing, but the best way is getting straight into the mix.

"It was awesome to get the win on Wednesday. It makes a change as I haven't been on a winning team all season!

"But the more we practice and play together, the better we'll get."