Raiders need extreme focus to conquer Knights says coach

The two clubs met, memorably, in the play-off final at Coventry Skydome last season when Raiders, having conceded three times in the first four minutes, came up just short in a 5-4 loss.

They welcome the defending champions to Romford’s Sapphire Ice & Leisure Centre on Saturday (5.15pm), before making the return trip to Planet Ice Leeds on Sunday.

And Easton feels his side can be a match for anyone on their day, if they can remain extremely focused.

“With injuries on their way back into the line-up we have what it takes to beat Leeds,” he said.

“But it’s going to take extreme focus on the defensive front to get anything out of these games.”

Raiders, without injured duo Tom Relf and George Norcliffe, claimed three points from a possible four in their double-header with Sheffield Steeldogs last weekend – but will be disappointed not to have taken the maximum haul.

Captain Aaron Connolly gave them an early lead in Sheffield, with new Canadian import forward Riley MacRae picking up an assist on his debut.

Former GB captain Jonathan Phillips levelled towards the end of the first period, but Adam Laishram restored the Raiders lead with 11 seconds left on the clock.

Connolly made it 3-1 just before the midway mark, but Matt Bissonnette replied with a powerplay goal and Sam Cooper levelled early in the final stanza.

A Laishram powerplay goal was cancelled out by Jason Hewitt, while Zack Milton’s go-ahead effort was answered by Jonathan Kirk with less than three minutes to play.

Bissonnette then netted an overtime winner for the Steeldogs, with Easton adding: “Saturday defensively was not good enough, we keep hurting ourselves with bad puck management in the defensive zone.

“I thought we showed some great offensive power and played a lot of the games on the puck.

“Sunday was an improved defensive display with the same offensive output.”

Jake Sylvester’s powerplay goal cancelled out an early Sheffield effort in Romford on Sunday, before MacRae opened his account in a gold and blue jersey.

“Riley made a quick impact with his size and power and was rewarded with his first Raiders goal and assists to go with it,” said Easton.

But Bissonnette levelled on a visiting powerplay and, after Laishram put Raiders 3-2 up, struck again just 13 seconds later to leave the sides locked going into the last 20 minutes.

Leading scorer Laishram lifted the hosts with his fourth goal of the weekend just 32 seconds after the restart, though, and Brandon Ayliffe sealed a 5-3 win.