Captain's Corner - beating Flint, team chemistry, this weekend

Each week during the 2012-13 season, Metro Jets’ captain Matt Stirling will give his thoughts on topics surrounding the team as it makes its way through the North American 3 Hockey League grind.

-- On beating Flint in a shootout last Friday night.

The Flint game was an all-around great game. We played well in every area of the ice and stayed out of the penalty box to get the win. That is the way we should play every night and what it will take to win key games in this league.

-- On how his individual game progressing.

My game has progressed in multiple areas so far this season. Mostly mentally, the game seems to be slowing down and it is becoming second nature to make routine plays on the ice.

-- On team chemistry almost two months into the season.

The chemistry of the team is starting to get better as the guys get to know each other and get familiar with the system we want to play. With so many rookies, it takes time for players to learn the system and the way junior hockey works. The team is starting to come together on and off the ice. I think our on-ice play is starting to reflect that as well.

-- On playing at Michigan Saturday night and Cleveland at home Sunday afternoon.

I expect for us to come out with four points as we need them to keep pace in our division. These teams are both talented and can be tough to play against if you don’t prepare all week for them. I expect Michigan to be aggressive all over the ice and to be able to keep pace with us for 60 minutes. Cleveland we have played before and know what kind of effort it will take to play them. Both games will be a challenge, but if we play how we know we can, we should come out with four points.