A big win on Saturday, a heavy loss on Sunday. How do we cope with that? Well, it was as if we didn't really get off the bus up in Newcastle. There's no point beating ourselves up about it. It happened. We move on.

By the time you read this you'll know how well we'd been able to pick ourselves up for the Nottingham game.

But I do want to talk to you about our win on Saturday - not just because it was a win, but because of how we played. That was a great team performance and it was important for us to do that in front of our own fans. They responded and become part of the team, giving us energy and confidence and belief. It was one of those great Hockey Nights in Basingstoke shared by so many people.

Strangely, sitting in the locker room before the game, I didn't really know how we were going to perform. We'd had a meeting on Friday to talk over what we should do about playing without being paid. Each guy was able to explain how he felt and the decision to play was taken. But would we be able to put our worries aside and give it our best shot the following day?

I think the way the guys played showed real character. Every one of them stepped up and as the game went on all that we'd talked about in practice began to happen. We began to function as a team.

As I said last week, we had gone back to basics. I was coached by the same guy, Danny Flynn, for four years at University. He moved on to become assistant coach with the New York Islanders. Over these last few weeks so much of what he taught me has come flooding back.

You need set line-ups so that you get to know instinctively where everyone is on the ice. You defend as a team, covering for each other. The goalie makes the first save and you stop the opposition getting second and third shots in. You build from there and you're going to get chances to score.

With one of the best goal-tenders I've ever played in front of and one of the best go-to guys in the league as part of a team, we've got a lot to look forward to.

See you Saturday.