Edinburgh Capitals 3, Newcastle Vipers 6

Feb 18 2008 by Peter Adams, The Journal

TOP goalscorer Colin Shields struck his second hat-trick of the month as the Vipers ended their poor run of results against the in-form Capitals.

Reunited with Derek Campbell and Todd Jackson, Shields netted the Vipers second, fifth and sixth goals to make it 28 for the season.

The 27-year-old GB international starred as the fast and skilful trio tore the Capitals apart, between them contributing five of the Vipers goals. It was clearly good to be back together again.

Eight days prior to last night’s win, Shields hit a natural hat-trick against the Cardiff Devils in a thrilling 4-3 home win.

Victory in Murrayfield came after the Vipers had experienced tough times against the second from bottom side, with the Capitals winning three of the previous four encounters between the two sides, the other being a 3-3 draw. As a result of the dire sequence coach Rob Wilson had told his players that they owed themselves and the fans a winning performance, and the Vipers responded by taking a two-goal lead.

Campbell was the first Viper to beat netminder JF Perras and his goal ended a frustratingly barren eight-game stretch in which he had only managed to record one assist.

Shields struck his first of the night to double the Vipers’ advantage but the Capitals, who had impressively won four of their last five games in a late bid to qualify for the play-offs, struck back with Martin Cingel scoring either side of the first break.

Then the Capitals’ top points scorer Mike Stutzel made it 3-2 and the Vipers were lucky not to go further behind as a shot from their leading marksman Colin Hemingway struck the bar. That was the high water mark for the Capitals and Stutzel’s threat was neutralised by Jeff Hutchins who has, since his return from injury, been playing in Campbell’s place.

The Vipers bossed the final period as the Capitals, playing their sixth game in eight days, four of them on the road, tired and found it difficult to deal with the blistering pace of Campbell, Jackson and Shields.

Jackson made it 4-3 before Shields put the Vipers out of reach, his hat-trick marker being an empty-netter after Perras had been withdrawn to the bench.