A four-game Sunday gameday in the Elite Ice Hockey League awaits us today, with the top four facing each other as part of the day’s fixtures.
Belfast Giants picked up a shutout win in Sheffield on Saturday to move back six points clear at the top, and leave the Steelers eight points behind with eight games remaining. The Giants’ superior regulation wins effectively puts the Steelers nine behind, any more tonight and their league title hopes will look to be over. 10 more points currently looks good enough to secure the league title on 82, given their better tie-breaking record with both the Steelers and Panthers. Sheffield also have to be wary of falling to fourth.
In Cardiff, the fourth-placed Devils entertain second-placed Nottingham Panthers. Cardiff’s defeat on Friday has put them now 11 points back in the title race, which coach Paul Thompson conceded is probably too far behind now to stay in the race. The Devils can, however, still target finishing up to second in the league ahead of the playoffs. Nottingham trail Belfast by six points ahead of their trip to Wales. The next fortnight is huge for them, with a Challenge Cup Final, home-and-home series with Sheffield, and then a double-header in Belfast. Defeat in Cardiff would make those four league fixtures that little bit harder.
Outside of the top four, fifth-placed Manchester Storm head into Fife on Sunday looking to shore up their place in the standings. The Storm have just a one-point advantage over Guildford and have seen their cushion evaporate over recent weeks to now only being two points above seventh. Fife were heavily beaten in Nottingham on Friday and by Sheffield at home last Sunday as they try to avoid finishing last.
The day ends in Guildford, who take on Dundee Stars from 6pm. The teams played on Friday night in Scotland where the Flames came out 3-1 winners to edge them ever closer to the top five. A win tonight could see them go fifth if Manchester lose.
Photo: Hayley Roberts