Robinson is out to give Hull a sting in the tail after

Published on Wednesday 24 September 2008 10:07

HOT-STOP Michael Robinson can't wait to get back at Hull Stingrays in tonight's televised showdown on Humberside.

The crestfallen Canadian netminder was shell-shocked that Edinburgh Capitals let slip a 2-0 lead on successive nights at the weekend.

Doug Christiansen's men led 2-0 at Manchester Phoenix on Saturday and 2-0 at home to fellow-strugglers Hull Stingrays on Sunday and ended up losing both games.

What could have been a four-point weekend turned into a two-point haul and, what's worse, defeat by a Hull side Robinson knows Capitals can beat.

The matter-of-fact Montreal-born stopper did not hold back his disappointment and candidly conceded that Capitals were the architects of their own demise.

But the 6ft 1in former college star insists his team-mates are determined to learn from their mistakes. And he vowed to come out fighting in Hull tonight when Capitals will be minus Great Britain defenceman Kyle Horne.

The Kirkcaldy-born player, who celebrates his 28th birthday next week, could be sidelined for some weeks with a foot fracture. That means Capitals will have to shuffle the pack. On Sunday, Christiansen filled in on defence along with emerging youngster Mark Paterson, something the American playcaller would rather not do. With no apparent movement on the signing front, it looks as if Capitals will head south with the squad which was on view on Sunday. Other teams in the league who have not faced the Edinburgh side will be watching so it is important for Capitals to make their mark in front of a national small screen audience.

Robinson, who was a stand-out in Italy two seasons ago, believes Capitals are improving and he said: "Obviously, our goal is to get better week after week. We did that this weekend but, at the same time, we're a little disappointed that we let a two-goal lead slip at Manchester and at home against Hull. That was especially true of Sunday's game against a team like Hull. They are in the same position that we are concerning players that have left and players they need to get.

"There are no excuses for us to lose this one (to Hull), but hockey is a long season and we have to learn off this."

The highly-rated 26-year-old netminder added: "It's okay to lose sometimes, but you have to learn from your mistakes to make sure that it doesn't happen again. We all thought we were going to win that game (against Hull) and they came back on us.

"When we were on their backs they couldn't do anything and that's what we didn't do in the third period. We gave them the chance to come back and they took it. We gave them the ice to work with and they didn't feel any pressure from us. Once they got the first goal they felt they were right back in there but we had chances to score a third goal in the second and third periods and we didn't take them."

A critical point was a five-on-three power play for Capitals deep in the middle session with Pavel Gomenyuk and Steve Slonina in the sin bin. Capitals had four shots on Hull netminder Curtis Cruickshank during that crucial spell but only one from Joe Dustin really tested the goaltender.

Robinson said: "Those are the things we have to work on. If we'd scored on the power play then they wouldn't have come back into the game but a two-goal lead is one of the worst leads in hockey."

This is one of the teams we are going to battle against for a play-off spot so every point against that team is important to us."

Robinson is also unhappy that Capitals have not won at home so far this season. After Hull tonight and Belfast on Saturday they square up to feisty Newcastle Vipers at Murrayfield next Sunday. He said: "We have got to put out a better performance."