PRESSURE was today mounting on Edinburgh Capitals owner Scott Neil following another depressing defeat.
Disgruntled fans voiced their displeasure on the club's own website prior to last night's disappointing 4-2 defeat by Cardiff Devils, one claiming that doing the ironing was more appealing than watching the team.
Last night's reverse was the Elit
e League club's seventh defeat in nine matches so far this term.
And Neil's message in the club's programme was not encouraging. The former Great Britain international, who bankrolls the ailing side, revealed that he "cannot commit any more expenditure to the club until new income streams are found".
Jeff Hutchins, who was cut by Sheffield Steelers last week, was in the arena last night and is a friend of Capitals director of hockey Doug Christiansen.
It's unlikely that Hutchins, who has a wife and a young child, was there socially but Christiansen was tight-lipped on his presence.
Finance is key. It is almost certain that an outside sponsor will have to come forward to assist in the signing of Hutchins given Neil's unequivocal statement.
Nobody can point a finger at the players for lack of effort; Christiansen's bravehearts once again gave their all for the cause.
Hot-stop Cody Rudkowsky once again proved why he is so highly rated in British ice hockey. Simon Lambert buzzed around the ice repeatedly causing Cardiff problems, while Owen Fussey had another fine game and Scots-born Mark Garside scored two great goals.
The first, after seven minutes, featured a spectacular one-timer from just inside Cardiff's blue line following a move involving Lambert and Fussey which was rifled into the net to give Great Britain netminder Stevie Lyle no chance.
That levelled the scoreline at 1-1 after Jason Stone had put the visitors ahead in the sixth minute following Capitals' failure to clear the puck from their own end, allowing the Cardiff player to shoot through traffic.
Reliable Rudkowsky then saved well from Matt Miller and then free-scoring Wes Jarvis on a one-on-one.
Capitals skipper Martin Cingel who is just back after flu, had a great chance after being fed by Neil Hay who won the puck on the boards, but sent it wide.
Then, Devils claimed their second on the power play when Jay Latulippe netted with Lambert in the sin bin for tripping.
The Welshmen netted their third through Phil Hill a minute into the third period.
Garside then netted his and Capitals' second in the 43rd minute with a calm assurance. He was set up by Fussey and Lambert and took his chance well to underline his growing importance to the team.
Capitals had to thank Rudkowsky, twice denying Miller before he was withdrawn in the final minute giving Capitals six skaters.
However, Capitals' enterprise came to nothing when Miller made them pay five seconds from time with an empty net goal.
The home side may have been outshot 30-23 but they were in the frame against a side who whipped league pace-setters Nottingham Panthers 6-2 in the Principality on Saturday night.
Last night's victory took Devils into third spot in the eight-strong table with 13 points from 11 games, one point but two places behind Panthers who have played a game less.
At the other end of the table, Capitals have three points from four league games.
Christiansen, whose men lost 9-2 in Belfast on Friday, admitted: "It was a tough weekend.
"The first night, everybody had a bad night. We re-centred on Saturday and had a nice meeting and the guys came out focused yesterday.
"They (Cardiff) had just beaten first-placed Nottingham Panthers and we were step by step with them all night.
"Chasing the game does hurt you but, if we'd had a bounce either way at certain times, it might have been different.
"Stevie Lyle made the saves when he needed too but I don't think he looked crisp.
"It is not about style it is about results and he only let two goals in tonight. Our lack of depth definitely hurts us.
"Being short does affect our chemistry and our quality but Simon Lambert played well the whole game but a lot of the guys played well. Owen Fussey was a threat, Mark Garside had two goals and we had a lot of guys who stepped up to contribute but it is hard for the defence to contribute when there are only four of them."
On Neil's statement, Christiansen said: "Right now, the economics of this world are very difficult.
"He is our owner and we have to respect his situation.
"I am actively still trying to get a guy from separate sponsorship that will not put our club in peril.
"As a coach you always want to improve your team and if there is a player out there who can improve your team you want to bring him in but I do understand the situation of the club and it might require further sponsorship to add to this roster."
