The Belfast Giants may be banging in the goals right now, but winger Kyle Osterberg admits he is ready to get in on the goalscoring action again in their bid for Elite League glory.
The American may have been setting up the goals, picking up four assists in his last two games, but his own struggles in front of goal have seen him fail to find the back of the net in 24 games.
Kyle Osterberg is committed to putting in hard work on the ice for the Belfast Giants
Although he has struggled to score since joining from the Fife Flyers in the summer of 2024 after a season where he netted 24 times in Kirkcaldy, Osterberg is confident he can turn things around.
“I’ve been playing really well personally. I’ve got a monkey on my back in terms of scoring, but I’m just trying to do what I can, play the right way every shift, leave everything on the ice and do what I can,” says the 30-year-old.
“Everyone wants to score, that’s a big key of why I was brought here. But my old man said when the opportunities don’t come your way, then you start to panic. I feel like I have gotten them.
“Once I get that first one, it’ll start going my way. Bear down, keep working hard and stick with what I know I can do.”
The Giants have just one game at the weekend, but it’s a massive one as they welcome defending Grand Slam champions the Sheffield Steelers to the SSE Arena for the first time in the 2024/25 season on Sunday (4pm), with revenge on their minds after two losses in Sheffield earlier in the campaign.
“We deserved a win in Sheffield. Sheffield is a good little rivalry, it’s going to be a good game,” adds Osterberg.
“If we focus on what we need to do in the locker room, with our team-mates and coaches holding us accountable, that’s what’s going to be the difference-maker in the game this weekend. We just have to play Belfast Giants hockey and that’ll be enough for us.
“It is good to have no injuries and everyone pulling the rope and be able to dictate games the way we want to. Whether it’s with or without the puck, we’re doing the right things.”