Leeds Knights looking to carry season-closing 'good habits' into NIHL National play-offs
RYAN ALDRIDGE hopes the “good habits” his Leeds Knights team have developed in the closing moments of the NIHL National regular season will bode well for them in the play-offs.
The Knights kick-off their Group B campaign at home to Telford Tigers this Saturday (face-off 6.30pm), the first of back-to-back games between the two who will battle in Shropshire the following night.
Two more double-header weekends follow against Hull Seahawks and Milton Keynes Lightning providing a far-from-easy path to the semi-finals at the Final Four Weekend in Coventry on Saturday, April 18.
Having incurred the wrath of head coach Aldridge after last weekend’s 8-3 defeat to Romford Raiders, the Knights have responded positively, finishing their 54-game schedule with three wins.
A closer-than-needed-to-be 6-5 win at Bristol Pitbulls on Saturday was followed by a more convincing and comfortable 5-1 win at home to Peterborough Phantoms on Sunday.
A brace from Finley Bradon, plus strikes from Balint Pakozdi, Danny Harrison and Owen Sobchak were enough to see the Knights finish third overall, two points behind eventual runners-up Hull.
“Obviously over the last three games we’ve just been focusing on the play-offs and creating good habits,” said Aldridge on Sunday night.
“We’ve got to put all those habits together next weekend and being at home against Telford first up is a good chance to get going in the play-offs - especially in front of a good home crowd. Every game in the play-offs is entertaining, but it is hard work and you’ve got to fight for every puck. Saturday will be no different.”
Telford head to Leeds having finished seventh in the regular season. They bring decent form with them, following up an 8-5 win at Basingstoke Bison on Saturday with a 7-4 win over Bristol.