Richardson raring for play-offs

Richardson has scored 59 points in 57 games this season

Nottingham Panthers forward Bruce Richardson wants his side to focus on hockey as their play-off campaign begins this weekend against Manchester.

The two sides meet in Nottingham on Saturday in the first leg of their quarter-final, with the return in Manchester on Sunday.

Richardson told BBC Radio Nottingham: "I've asked the guys for the next two weeks not to worry about anything else.

"It's hockey first and after that the rest is just detail."

Panthers won the play-offs in 2007 with a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over Cardiff, but were knocked out by the same side in last year's quarter-final.

Richardson added: "When you are in play-offs the guys step it up a notch and the intensity goes up for those games. It's because there's a trophy at the end that everybody wants to win.

"We have guys on that team with a lot of character and we have a lot of guys who are play-offs players - and hopefully we can show that starting Saturday.

"I think play-offs is the best time of the year. Even me and my kid watching the play-offs in the NHL it's just a thrill and it's all about the best team playing."