Fife Flyers have left it late but it’s good to see some fight – Todd Dutiaume

Todd Dutiaume’s side are bottom of the Elite League but remain in contention for post-season qualification after weekend wins over two of the teams they are trying to catch, Dundee Stars and Manchester Storm, closed the gap on eighth place to five points.

A free-falling Glasgow Clan side are also within reach and, with seven games remaining, head coach Dutiaume says there is still plenty to play for.

“We’ve left it late but it’s nice to see a fight,” he said.

“We have seven games left, and the teams we’re chasing down all have games in hand but they need to win those.

“All we can focus on is what we have in front of us, take it a game at a time like we have been the last couple of weeks.

“A couple of teams above us play each other a couple of times, so there are going to be points dished out. So we need to continue to pick up wins.

“But the fact we’ve pulled up behind that pack certainly puts pressure on teams.

“I’d like to be more in control of the situation than we are but we’re generally focused on ourselves.”

Flyers have only one game this weekend – a tough task away to league leaders Sheffield Steelers tonight – but a side who were beaten in Kirkcaldy just two weeks ago.

“This has been our most consistent stretch of the season by a mile,” Dutiaume said.

“We went through an incredibly difficult time, challenging mentally and draining physically, and everybody gets incredibly down.

“But the guys have shown great maturity bouncing back off it, because after losing 14 straight games, it would have been pretty easy to throw in the towel and ride it out.

“We were definitely on that slide. We’re now clicking at a better rate and guys are looking more confident on the ice.”

Flyers have taken nine points from the last 14 available and Dutiaume reckons improved special teams have played their part.

“Our kill has been stellar over the last three weeks,” Dutiaume explained.

“We made it successful in the past but it wasn’t working this year and the guys seem much happier since we made the adjustment.  

“Our PP too is starting to click and we’re scoring again where previously it was completely dry.

“The guys aren’t hiding from it – they know we haven’t changed the systems or the breakout, it’s just the work ethic and the puck pursuit.”

The form of Adam Morrison has also been key with the netminder conceding just six goals in the past week from 124 shots for a 95.2 save percentage – despite making a mistake for Storm’s opener on Sunday.

“Unfortunately for a goaltender, their mistakes appear to be glaring because the puck ends up in the back of the net,” Dutiaume said.

“But sometimes it’s just as important as a back-checking forward, or defenceman not getting a puck out.

“He does play the puck a lot and it has its benefits, so you have weigh that up, but my opinion is, without nit-picking through a few games, Morrison has given us a chance to win most nights, he really has.

“His save percentage is up there near the top. That tells you it’s been our offense that’s been suffering but we’re now seeing a few guys finding their scoring touch again.”

After their trip to Sheffield Arena on Saturday, Flyers move into another one-game weekend with a trip to Belfast Giants next Friday.

The next home fixture is not due until Saturday, March 14, when Glasgow Clan visit Fife Ice Arena for a potentially pivotal match.

“We have seven games left and our fate depends on them,” Dutiaume added.

“There is no room for error and we recognise that.

“It would be a tremendous accomplishment if we could fight our way back into it but, right now, we are just trying to claw ourselves out of a situation we put ourselves in.”