Wed 11 Jan 2023 - 08:00AM

RICCI SAYS PANTHERS HAVE A POINT TO PROVE

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Fabrizio Ricci says the players are determined to prove they are good enough as The Nottingham Panthers travel to Northern Ireland for back-to-back matches this weekend.

The Panthers have games against Belfast Giants at the SSE Arena on Friday and Saturday in the Viaplay Elite League.

Panthers lost out to the Giants in the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup as a 3-2 first-leg victory in Nottingham was folllowed by a 5-2 defeat in Belfast.

Ricci said: "We owe them one. They're a great team, with great coaching and great players.

"We have beaten them at home but went there in the Challenge Cup second leg and I thought we played well, but it came down to special teams.

"With two games there this weekend, it's definitely going to be a battle."

Panthers are currently sixth in the table and Ricci knows the players must do better.

"We have a point to prove to the fans, our front office, the coach, everyone," Ricci continued.

"We owe it to each other, we owe ourselves that. We are a good team when we play well together in unison.

"Moving forward, we still have the playoffs to play for.

"We want to get ourselves as high as we can in the standings to put us in a good spot to reach the final-four weekend and try to win a trophy."

Click here to listen to Fab Ricci on Panthers Radio in association with Xynomix.