MK Lightning aim to use the confidence picked up after taking three points from a possible four against Guildford Flames last weekend, to see off the threat of Swindon Wildcats in this weekend’s double header against the Wiltshire side.  After winning seven of their first eight league fixtures this season, Lightning uncharacteristically dropped points to Peterborough Phantoms and Bracknell Bees – then immediately bounced back last Saturday with a dominant 6-4 home defeat of Flames and took another point from a hard-fought return leg 24 hours later.

Former Wildcats skater Michael Farn knows that he and his team-mates cannot afford to let that momentum slip again, as they prepare to face a Swindon side reaping the benefits of their summer signings: “They made changes in the summer with new imports, a new netminder and a new assistant coach – and it all seems to be paying off for them.  They’ve had some high-scoring games this season as well as grinding out some 1-0 wins – so we’ll have to be tight defensively and make sure we capitalise on every chance we create.  Swindon is always a tough place to go to, and we know we’ll always have tough games against them.  They were my first EPL club, so while it’s good to go back there it’s always good to beat them as well!”

Over the summer the Wildcats lost both of their netminders, Chris Douglas and James Hadfield, defender James Griffin moved to the Elite league, whilst forwards Matt Foord, Jamie Hayes and Egidijus Bauba all found new clubs.  Goaltending experience arrived in the form of Coventry Blaze’s Thomas Murdy, whilst Czech sharpshooters Michal Pinc and Jaroslav Cesky joined from Bracknell Bees along with enforcer Nicky Watt and defenceman Shane Moore.  The Wildcats’ bench staff were joined by former Slough coach Pete Russell to assist player-coach Ryan Aldridge.
 
As well as beating league title holders Manchester Phoenix and EPL cup holders Slough, Swindon have also taken points from Telford Tigers, Peterborough Phantoms and Bracknell Bees this season, and currently sit just below Milton Keynes in the EPL table. 

Farn concluded, “Even in some of the games we won earlier this season, we didn’t play to our true potential - and the losses to Peterborough and Bracknell showed that that can catch us out.  All the lads here want to work hard – we believe in ourselves and believe we can win every game as long as we’re fully committed.  We’ll give it 100% from the first drop of the puck right to the final buzzer, like we did against Guildford, and hopefully take the full four points from Swindon to get our season back on track”.
·         
 Lightning face off against Swindon Wildcats at the Link Centre, Swindon at 5.45pm on Saturday 12 November, with the return fixture at Planet Ice Milton Keynes at 5.30pm on Sunday 13 November.