Ice Hockey: Play-off goal gives Caps something to aim at

Skipper Cingel still hopes the Elite League basement club can still make the top-eight end-of-season play-offs and that makes victory over fellow-strugglers Newcastle Vipers on Tyneside tomorrow (7.00pm) so important. Currently, the Scots are have 15 points, five points behind ninth-placed Vipers but, crucially, they hold a game in hand.

Rookies Dundee CCS Stars are in the eighth spot with 27 points from 42 games and Cingel remains positive despite Capitals playing catch-up in the play-off race.

Newcastle, however, go into the clash on a high after a stunning 6-5 home victory over high-flying Nottingham Panthers last Sunday with only 12 skaters.

The shock result followed a 7-1 reverse at Braehead Clan on Saturday when Vipers turned up with only ten skaters.

Cingel said: "Newcastle had a great result at home to Nottingham but they are in the same position as us being short of players. They will be really hard to beat but we have to go there in a positive frame of mind and thinking we can get a result.

"We all have to do our jobs as we definitely need points if we are to stay in the play-off race.

"Everybody will have to give 100 per cent and see what happens, but we've not given up hope of making the play-offs.

"It's what you work for all year and we have to keep believing we can do it." Capitals, sadly, have lost their last 17 games and have so far won only six of their 41 starts so far. They have scored 117 goals, the second lowest total in the ten-strong league, and let in a staggering 277.

Newcastle have shipped 226 and have scored only 112, the lowest total so far, but games are not played on paper.

Capitals, however, must upset the form book if they are to earn any points having lost 3-2 and 10-2 on Tyneside so far this term.

Scott Neil's men have won 7-4 and 6-1 at Murrayfield and Cingel, who is the club's second top points gatherer with 12 goals and 29 assists from 43 games, takes heart from that.

Capitals should have experienced Jeff Hutchins in their line-up despite the former Newcastle player suffering a facial injury in Sunday's defeat at Hull. He could be forced to wear a full face cage to allow him to play. Edinburgh-born utility man Neil Hay is still suffering from a damaged shoulder and could be an absentee for the next few weeks.

Cingel added: "Jeff is a tough cookie and he is a big part of our team right now. Neil hurt his shoulder against Fife and he could be out for the next two or three weeks. Daniel McIntyre has had a chest infection and missed last weekend's trip but we hope to have him back."

On Sunday, record-breaking Cardiff Devils come to Murrayfield looking for two points to maintain their title challenge.

They have 65 points, 50 more than Capitals, with one less game played and will be in no mood to give Caps an easy night. Cingel said: "Cardiff are a really strong team and they are making a real challenge for the league title. Sheffield are ahead of them right now but they have 14 games left to win the league and they are going for it.

"They can't afford to lose any game and they will come here looking to take full points.

"It's a tough one for us but we have to keep working hard."

"Everybody will have to give 100 per cent, we've not given up hope of making the play-offs" martin cingel