Three games on Sunday wrap up the week in the Elite Ice Hockey League, with all of the title chasers in action.
Belfast Giants host Cardiff Devils in Part 2 of their weekend double-header. The Giants had not lost a league home game in regulation all season before Saturday night, and now go into Sunday having been beaten twice on home ice by EIHL opposition for the first time since March last year. You have to go back to Cardiff’s trip to Belfast in 2024 to find the last time the Giants lost back-to-back home games in regulation. Their lead at the top was cut to six points on Saturday with defeat to the Devils who are now seven behind.
Chasing the Giants are Sheffield Steelers, who are in Fife from 5pm. The Steelers are six points off the top having played a game more, and with an inferior regulation-wins tiebreak are effectively seven behind. Basement side Fife, already out of playoff contention, picked up a 4-3 win in Guildford on Saturday night.
Also chasing the leaders are Nottingham Panthers, who visit Coventry Blaze. The sides will meet in the Challenge Cup Final in 10 days and go into this fixture with the Panthers looking to make it a six-point week. Blaze picked up a shootout loss point in Sheffield on Saturday after eliminating Belfast from the Cup midweek. Coventry sit three points outside sixth place with two games in hand.
Photo: Scott Stevens