After the drama of the 2026 Challenge Cup Final and the first trophy of the season awarded, it’s a full slate of league games across the Elite Ice Hockey League this evening.
Belfast Giants could clinch the league title this weekend, but will need to win both of their games and hope for results elsewhere to go in their favour to do so. They play at home on Saturday night against Glasgow Clan in the first of a home-and-home between the two teams. The Giants have beaten Clan in all four meetings between the teams this season in league play. Clan could spoil the party, as a defeat for the Giants tonight would remove any possibility of winning the title on Sunday.
The Giants will be watching Sheffield very carefully when the Steelers host newly-crowned Challenge Cup champions Nottingham Panthers at the Utilita Arena. The Panthers must win both games this weekend against the Steelers to keep their outside hopes of a league title alive, while Sheffield can only get back in the hunt if Belfast start dropping multiple games. The two teams are separated by two points in the Panthers’ favour as they look to secure better playoff seeding.
Cardiff Devils, in fourth, are mathematically still in the title race but are realistically playing to finish as high up the table as they can ahead of the playoffs. They host Dundee for a double-header this weekend, with the Stars already out of playoff contention.
Outside of the title race, another game to keep your eye on is Manchester at home to Guildford. The teams are separated by just a point in the middle of the table as Storm try to hold on to fifth place ahead of the playoffs. Manchester have two games in hand, but have seen their cushion reduced over the past two months.
Ending the day are beaten Cup finalists Coventry Blaze, who have very little time to get over the heartbreak of an overtime defeat before they take on Fife Flyers. The Blaze are three points outside of the top six, but only two above Glasgow in eighth, as they play for seeding. Fife are aiming to avoid finishing last for the second straight season
Photo: William Cherry