November 21, 2011

UK Ice Hockey (Round Up 19th November)

Elite League

Hull Stingrays 1 Edinburgh Capitals 3

The Hull Stingrays headed back up north to Scotland on the back of their mid week defeat to Fife. This time they were in Murrayfield to play a Capitals side hitting some form. The Capitals started well through Jarolin then Valecko before the period was barely half way through. Matt Davies kept the Stingrays in touch but Peter Holecko kept the advantage at 2 at the end of the first period.

The second and third period saw chances but neither team could capitalise and it was the Edinburgh Capitals who went on to take the 2 points.

Coventry Blaze 1 Cardiff Devils 4
Coventry travelled to the welsh capital seeking revenge for their 6 – 1 drumming on their last visit. However it was Devils who started like a team determined not to let that happen as Hill and Birbraer scored to put the Devils 2 up. Cardiff then took 24 seconds to double that lead before the period finished.

The second period saw Cardiff consolidate their lead but could not hit the netting.  Coventry did manage to pull back a goal in the third through Farmer but couldn’t stage a comeback.

Belfast Giants 7 Fife Flyers 1
Fife were flying high after picking up their first top flight victory in over 15 years in mid week and that form continued as they took the lead through Matt Siddell in the third minute. But the league leaders, Belfast, then took control. After hitting 20 shots on Garrett Zemlack they finally levelled at just before the break with Craig Peacock.

Belfast continued their onslaught on the Fife goalie in the second hitting a further 19 shots and yet Zemlack was up to it stopping all but one. It did not stop there however has the Giants showed their killer instinct ratcheting up a further 26 shots and goals through Rebek, Keefe and a hat trick from Pelle to keep Belfast clear at the top of the table.

Sheffield Steelers 4 Braehead 2
Sheffield went up to Braehead looking to keep the pressure on Nottingham and Belfast. An even first period saw the teams head in at the break goalless.

That didn’t last long as the Steelers went all guns blazing to start the second period. First Finnerty scored on the powerplay then Legue grabbed a brace. With a penalties racking up on the Clan and a second 5 on 3 of the period Legue dutifully scored his hat trick goal.

The Clan were sparked into life into the third period and limited the Steelers to only 5 shots but it wasn’t until 7 minutes to go that Bayrack got the home side on the board. That was followed up by his second in the final minute. But the Clan were left to rue their ill discipline as the Steelers brimmed with confidence going to the derby game against Nottingham on the Sunday.

English Premier League
There was a big upset on Saturday night as Basingstoke went to the Hanger to face the league leaders Slough Jets. Sloughs usually potent attack however was out done by a rampant Basingstoke. The Jets losing the tie 7 -3. That loss and Guildford’s narrow victory over Swindon at the Link Center set up Sunday’s winner takes top match up at the spectrum between the Flames and the Jets.

Elsewhere Manchester’s Martin Cingel was left laid out on the ice during their first game in a home and home series against Peterborough. The Slovakian on the already injury hurt Phoenix team refused a stretch making it back to his bench under his own steam only to come out the next shift and put the visitors in the lead. 3 goals in reply however put the Phantoms in control and earned them two points to take them from the foot of the table.

EPL Results
Basingstoke Bison 7 Slough Jets 3
Manchester Phoenix 1 Peterborough Phantoms 3
Guildford Flames 2 Swindon Wildcats 1
Milton Keynes Lightning 1 Sheffield Steeldogs 4
Bracknell Bees 3 Telford Tigers 2

Neil Tucker

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