Ice Hockey: Giants are gathering to come and crush Capitals

The Glasgow-born Belfast Giants player sympathises with the Capitals but his side have business at the other end of the Elite League table.

They are still in the title chase and Shields believes they need to win all their remaining games to stand any chance of pipping current front-runners Sheffield Steelers. That includes victory at the Riversdale rink tomorrow, face-off 6.00pm. A form slump just after Christmas has cost Giants dear.

The former league pace-setters - coached by former Capitals playcaller Doug Christiansen - are now in second spot in the league of ten but are on a winning streak having come out on top in their last eight games.

Giants have won three of the four meetings with Capitals so far this term and celebrated victories in both their games against Capitals in Northern Ireland (5-1 and 8-3).

But Capitals shocked Belfast 5-4 after overtime in Murrayfield in their first meeting before being edged 2-1 in overtime on their second visit.

That was, of course, before the well-documented mass exodus of imported players and cash-strapped Capitals have lost their last 21 games.

Shields said: "It's not a secret about the Edinburgh situation. It is difficult and it is unfortunate about what has happened as they have lost a lot of players. But we have to stick to our game plan and keep going. We're in the title race and we need to keep earning points. We're coming for two points.

"We have to approach the game in a professional manner. If the game goes a certain way then we can't switch off. We can't get into bad habits as we have an important game at Hull Stingrays on Sunday."

Shields still believes Giants have a realistic shot at the title but admitted: "We need help."

They do, however, face Sheffield twice in the run-in and he added: "If we win those two games when we still need a little help from somebody else.

"However, if we continue to play well and pick up points then that will put pressure on Sheffield. If we win all our remaining games then that will give us a chance."

The award-winning Great Britain internationalist admitted that things became difficult just after the Festive season. "We've had some injuries this season but we lost momentum around Christmas.

"We lost a number of games and that hurt, but we're getting back to top form."

Several former Edinburgh players are in Belfast's line-up including Great Britain international goaltender Stephen Murphy and forward Mark Garside who also missed a chunk of the season through injury but has appeared in 33 games, scoring nine goals and assisting on nine other strikes.

Shields said: "Stephen has been playing really well, he's very steady for us and keeps us in games.

"Mark has been playing really well and he likes being over here. He's even had some local gigs with his singing.

"Colin (Hemingway) has been back in the side for around the last 12 games after being out injured for around three months. It was a bad one (injury) but he's getting back to his best."