It’s gameday in the first leg of the Quarter-Finals in the Elite League Playoffs in 2026.
Eight teams go into four games tonight, and while no one can qualify for Playoff Finals Weekend this evening, they can certainly make life very difficult for themselves.
Starting at 6pm, Guildford Flames host Sheffield Steelers. These were two closely matched teams during the season, finishing fifth against fourth. Guildford have won eight of their last 10 games and go into the playoffs as the league’s form side. Sheffield, over the same spell, have won just four. The Steelers did, however, win seven of the eight meetings between the teams this season, although four of those games went beyond regulation. The Flames will need to take something into tomorrow’s second leg, having not won at the Utilita Arena since a shootout victory in December 2023.
From 7pm, Coventry Blaze face Cardiff Devils as seventh plays second after the regular season. While the Blaze lost their last three games of the season and went .500 through their final 10, the Devils won seven, including their last three. In meetings this season, Coventry won both Challenge Cup games before Cardiff went 5-0-0-1 in the league, including three shutout victories. The last two meetings, however, were decided by just a single goal.
In Manchester, the Storm take on Nottingham Panthers in a battle of sixth against third. Storm were fifth for much of the season, but a run of five wins in their last 15 games saw them slip to sixth on the final weekend. The Panthers also struggled in the run-in, winning five of their last 10 as they dropped out of the title race. The teams met twice last week, including a feisty encounter at the Storm Shelter, with the Panthers winning both by a single goal. Indeed, the last three meetings between the teams have all been decided by one goal, with February’s clash going to overtime. Nottingham won six of the eight meetings overall, with just one going beyond 60 minutes.
Finally, league champions Belfast Giants take on eighth-placed Glasgow Clan in the only series where the higher seed has opted to play the home leg first. The teams meet again tomorrow night in Braehead Arena. Glasgow won five of their last 10 games and nearly climbed to seventh, but their final-day win over Sheffield came in overtime, leaving them eighth. Clan have alternated wins and losses since the start of March, including a victory in Belfast. The Giants clinched the title on 27 March and still won eight of their last 10 games, including three of five after securing the trophy. Belfast have won eight of the 10 meetings between the teams this season, with both losses coming in Braehead after regulation.
Overtime
Overtime is only played if a Quarter-Final series is tied on aggregate after the second leg. If any of tonight’s game end tied after 60 minutes, thats where things stay until the second leg on Sunday.
Photo: John Uwins