The Newcastle Northstars remain in second spot on the Australian Ice Hockey League ladder despite four straight losses and coach John Kennedy jnr reckons he won't be pushing the "panic button" any time soon.
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The Northstars have now dropped back-to-back double headers, most recently to the third-placed Sydney Bears (5-0) at home on Saturday and the Sydney Ice Dogs (7-4) away on Friday.
Prior to that Newcastle had a 14-3 record, featuring seven straight wins to open the 2019 season.
"For us it's going back to the drawing board, but it's not erasing everything and it's not starting from scratch," Kennedy jnr told AIHL media.
"We've had success. We know how to win. We wouldn't be here if we didn't.
"It's not changing everything. It's not pressing the panic button. But it is saying hey, what do we need to do better day in and day out and what do we need to do better individually to be a better team."
The Northstars, who have conceded 19 goals in their last four outings, were kept scoreless for the first time this campaign while the visiting Bears netted five of their own at Hunter Ice Skating Stadium.
The Bears dominated proceedings, scoring three goals in the first period and adding another two in the second to put the result beyond doubt.
However, it was a much different affair against the Ice Dogs at Macquarie Ice Rink just 24 hours earlier with Newcastle giving up a 3-1 first-term lead.
Inspired by Tim Crowder, the Ice Dogs went on to bag four unanswered goals in the third period.
The Northstars travel to Perth this weekend and meet the fourth-placed Thunder twice.
