NEWS: Finnerty pleased to see risk pay off

NEXT HOME GAME: Can the Braehead Clan get their first foot in the Challenge Cup semi-final THIS THURSDAY (7:30pm face-off). The Nottingham Panthers come to Braehead Arena in the Challenge Cup Quarter Final 1st Leg, tickets are available NOW via TICKETMASTER, by calling 0844 499 1700 or direct at the Braehead Arena box office.

Braehead Clan head coach Ryan Finnerty admits splitting Matt Beca and Scott Pitt was risky – but was pleased to see it pay off.

Clan ended the weekend with a 6-3 victory over Dundee Stars as focus now begins to turn towards the visit of Nottingham Panthers on Thursday in the Challenge Cup Quarter Final.

Finnerty was also happy at the reaction from his team after Saturday’s disappointing 6-4 loss to the Stars at home.

“We took a risk splitting up Scott Pitt and Matt Beca, who have carried the bulk of our offence and I did it to get some of the other guys going,” he said.

“All three lines looked good and I especially pleased with Beca’s line with Matt Keith and Pitt’s [Scott Pitt] line with Alex Leavitt showed some good stuff.

“Hopefully that continues and we can get some secondary scoring from that. We also made adjustments on our special teams and powerplay and looked incredible, getting three from four.

“The guys played well as the game went on, although I think Dundee may have tired a bit. We seem to have their number in Dundee and they have ours in Glasgow, so it’s funny how that works out.”

Finnerty says he wants to get away from the mixed weekends the club have had, where the team have won one and lost one in their last four weeks.

Now he’s looking for his players to build on it on Thursday when Challenge Cup holders Nottingham Panthers arrive for the Quarter Final first leg.

He added: “We’re still top of the Conference, but we’re tired of win one, lose one and want to go on a run. Everybody’s disappointed and frustrated with it.

“Overall I’m still disappointed by Saturday, but the guys responded well from that and we feel we’re confident going into the game with Nottingham later this week.

“We know they’ve won that trophy more than anybody so Corey will have his guys ready. We owe our fans a much deserved good performance at home.”