Another four points last weekend for the Belfast Giants saw them consolidate their place at the Elite League’s summit.
However, with twenty-one games still to be played the mantra amongst Adam Keefe’s men appears to be ‘one game at a time’.
The league’s intense schedule will not allow the Giants to rest on their laurels, but no-one could blame the men in teal for patting themselves on the back for their recent run of league form.
Their winning streak now stretched to seven league games and the ambitious side are showing no signs of taking their foot off the pedal.
Indeed, Giants’ star winger Bobo Carpenter told the Irish News that the work for his side was only just beginning.
“It’s one thing getting to the top of the table, it’s another thing staying there and that’s what we intend to do.” Carpenter said.
“Of course, the ambition is to win all three of the available trophies this season and we aren’t in any doubt about how difficult a task that is given how intense and competitive the league is.
“So, we have to treat every game like it’s a play-off game but it’s also important we don’t get caught up in the pressure and keep enjoying our hockey. That’s when we’re at our best.”
If there was any doubt about the Giants’ title winning credentials earlier in the season, those doubts have been firmly put to bed.
The Giants sit seven points clear at the top of the table above Cardiff, who sit in second place with two games in hand.
Keefe’s side have had no difficulty finding the net, with 124 goals so far this season - the second most of any side.
Significantly, the goals have been spread across the roster, with Scott Conway, Elijah Barriga, JJ Piccinich, Mark Cooper and Bobo Carpenter all chipping in.
This means that the injury or absence of any one player would not necessarily mean calamity for the Giants as they approach the business end of the season.
The Giant’s defence is the second stingiest in the league, having conceded 76 goals, just one more than Cardiff Devils and have the most shutouts with seven.
There are certainly plenty of positives for the Giants coaching staff to take from the season so far but, as Bobo Carpenter told the Irish News, ‘the final stretch of games is called trophy season, and this is the part of the season that matters’.
The Challenge Cup semi-final against Nottingham Panthers is coming up in just under two weeks, but before that the Giants have a run of league fixtures starting with a trip to Scotland this weekend to face Fife Flyers and Dundee Stars.
In theory, both games are eminently winnable, but the Elite league has thrown up some surprises this season including some big upsets on the road.
The Flyers have dropped their last three games at home against the Giants and have been outscored 3-18 in the process. The Scottish side also sit bottom of the league and have endured a poor recent run of form, so will be low on confidence as they prepare to face the league leaders.
The Dundee Stars will be the Giants’ opposition on Sunday. They currently sit seventh in the league and the Giants have got the better of them in every encounter so far this season, albeit some of their previous clashes have been too close for comfort for Keefe’s men.
The Giants face Fife on Saturday at 7.15pm at the Fife Ice Arena before travelling to Dundee to play at 5pm the following evening.
