RYAN FINNERTY has opened the door for heroic net minder Kyle Jones to prolong his stay at Braehead.

The shot stopper has been in sensational form this season in purple and has played a key role in the Glasgow club's meteoric rise to the top of the Elite League table.

Having joined at the start of the last campaign from the Colorado Eagles, the Canadian has racked up over 100 games for Clan, including nine shut outs this term.

Finnerty has spent the majority of this season praising Jones as the best goalie in the league.

And speaking to SportTimes, the Braehead head coach admitted the club will do what they can to keep him in purple beyond the summer.

"We will talk about that later on," said Finnerty.

"Obviously if Jonesy wants to be back here he'll be back and if we can get him back we will get him back.

"I don't think he's going to play anywhere else. It won't be a situation of him leaving us.

"We would be delighted to have him back and we will see what the future holds for the both of us."

Finnerty was speaking ahead of Braehead's crunch game in Sheffield tonight against the Steelers.

Victory over their hosts would see Clan extend their advantage of their second-placed rivals to seven points with just 12 remaining to the English side.

It is an occasion for Jones to shine yet again, and Finnerty is in no doubt about how crucial the 31-year-old could be.

"He is the best I have ever seen," he said.

"I played with a kid named Jody Lehman at Sheffield who was incredible and Jonesy reminds me a lot of him.

"They are different characters, but Kyle is just unbelievable, though. You almost don't want to jinx it and talk about him all the time but the stuff he does on the ice for us is amazing.

"He is a rock and it's fair to say every night we rely on him. We are confident playing in front of him and he is the one that gives us a chance every time."