Belfast Giants start a weekend double header against league leader Nottingham Panthers, hoping to bounce back from what Coach Steve Thornton described as an "embarrassing" performance last Sunday.
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The third-placed Belfast side was edged out 6-5 by the Newcastle Vipers in a penalty shoot-out, after leading for most of the encounter at the Odyssey Arena.
Newcastle only had nine skaters. Michel Robinson faced an incredible 72 shots whilst both Belfast goaltenders between them only faced 28 shots. The Giants also missed all three of their penalties.
They had fallen 3-2 to Hull the day before.
After Sunday's match, Thornton issued a stark warning to his skaters, saying "tough decisions" will have to be made.
"I'm totally embarrassed by the way the team performed", he told UTV.
"A lot of guys on the ice looked like they didn't want to be there. The guys have got to want it more," Thornton warned.
"I'm responsible because I'm the coach. But the guys were playing for the names in the back of the shirt, not the front of the shirt. It's embarrassing... Worst feeling I've had in hockey so far," he told UTV.
Canadian ice hockey winger Sean McMorrow said the side was now looking to "bounce back".
"Steve has been focusing a lot on team play and what exactly went wrong last weekend. Steve is a huge part of our success and we're all behind him," McMorrow told UTV.
"We're an excellent team and we're looking to prove to the city of Belfast and to the fans that we are an excellent team. We just need the support of our city and we're going to play the best that we can."
On Saturday night, the Giants will pull on special edition blue and yellow jerseys in the name of charity SAM to raise money and awareness of Congenital Muscular Dystrophy.
"We wanted to do something special for SAM and help them raise much needed money for their cause," said Giants General Manager Todd Kelman, "not only will this raise money for the charity, but it will hopefully give people the opportunity to understand more about this disease."
The Giants' weekend double header against the Nottingham Panthers at the Odyssey Arena kicks off at 7.30pm on Friday and 7pm on Saturday.
© UTV News