Published: Monday, 18th February, 2008 14:58
Title prospects up in Flames
By Observer Sport
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Steve Moria says the Jets can still win the league this season
English Premier Ice Hockey League
Guildford Flames 6, Slough Jets 2
SLOUGH Jets head coach Steve Moria refused to throw in the towel in the race for the English Premier Ice Hockey League title despite losing Sunday's big showdown against leaders Guildford Flames.
Going into the game, the Jets were just two points behind the Flames with one game in hand. But, after the demoralising 6-2 loss, they now find themselves four points adrift.
Guildford also hold the upper hand in terms of head-to-heads between the two sides and Slough will be relying on other teams to take points off the leaders in their final six games of the season.
Head coach Steve Moria said: "We are going to need a few favours. If it did come down to us being tied with them on points, they'd get first place because they have a better return than us [head to head]."
However, Moria was defiant that the Jets will fight to the last and feels that complacency could catch Guildford out.
"It is still possible," he said. "We have put ourselves in a difficult situation and we are obviously going to have to win all our games, but we've got to keep going for sure.
"There are all sorts of scenarios. After the big win that Guildford had, maybe they might relax.
"I'm sure it's in their minds that they've won the big game and now they will win the league. They might think they have done enough."
Despite what the scoreline suggests, the Jets were still very much in the game up until the final period.
Goals from Joe Ciccarello and Jan Krajicek cancelled out early strikes from Lukas Smital and Taras Foremsky, while only Jozef Kohut netted in the second period.
However, the Jets tired in the final 20 minutes and were not helped by two bench minors for too many men and too many imports.
"We were not only in it, we were creating so many scoring opportunities but weren't putting the puck in the net," Moria said afterwards.
"[Guildford netminder] Joe Watkins played a great game and really we didn't take our chances to put ourselves in front.
"We didn't get the goals that we deserved or needed, and in the third period we ran out of steam."
Kohut and Foremsky both netted their second of the night and Stuart Potts also got on the score sheet to complete the win.
The Jets are next in action on Wednesday for the second leg of their EPL Cup final against Bracknell Bees.
The Jets go into the game with a one-goal advantage after beating the Bees 4-3 on Thursday last week.
Face-off is 7.45pm at the Hangar.
Further Details
Rebels and Rams share points