Elite League
Dundee Stars 4 Nottingham Panthers 5
Nottingham were back in action after having Saturday off facing a Dundee side that were in their third game of the weekend but seeking their first points. The Panthers were also back to full strength with Steve Lee and David Clarke returning to the side.
The Stars started badly in the NIC dropping goals to Fox and Beauregard in the first period. But steadied the ship after in the second scoring through AJ Maclean only for Robert Lachowicz to restore the Panthers two goal lead into the final period.
That lead was then added to as Lepine got on the board just after the restart. But the Stars were not done as John Dolan added a quick fire brace to bring the away side back to within a goal. Only but Jeff Heerema scored the Panthers fifth to ease the nerves but it was still an uneasy finish as Brennan Turner scored to bring the Stars to within a goal with 8 minutes remaining.
The Stars though couldn't find the equaliser and will head back to Dundee without a point from the weekends fixtures. A disappointing end to the weekend as the Stars are starting to be distanced in the race for the playoffs. As for the Panthers they may be frustrated with the performance in particularly their penalty kill that gave up 3 goals out off 3 outings tonight. But it is job done and 2 more points in the title race as far as the Panthers are concerned.
Belfast Giants 4 Cardiff Devils 2
Belfast went into the Cardiff Arena and quickly got over their scoring nervousness of the night before. The Giants played a clinical game and took control either side of the first intermission. Scoring 3 goals in a 4 minute spell that left the Devils stunned.
Cardiff did get on the board late on in the second through Phil Hill and came back to within one as Pierce netted in the third. Giants' nerves though were eased as Adam Keefe scored to restore the 2 goal advantage with just over ten minutes remaining.
The two defeats for the Devils this weekend will concern Gerard Adams especially as they outshot their opponents on both occasions but Adams and the Devils perhaps know that their best shot at silverware will be their cup and playoff campaigns this season. Nonetheless points against the top sides still count as the Devils will look to be in the top half of the playoff tree.
Belfast however will be very happy to take 4 points back home to ireland. The Giants are still readjusting to life without Benoit Doucet but will be happy to know that they can win without him going into Fridays crunch game with the Steelers.
Braehead Clan 4 Fife Flyers 5
It was an edgy and tight game in Kirkcaldy as the Clan looked to seal a four point weekend but it was the Flyers who took the initiative and their chances.
A first period brace from Hamilton was to in the second by Siddall to give the Flyers the 3 goal lead. Kevin Phillips goal in the second kept the Clan in the tie going into the final period.
But Hamilton's hat trick and another from player coach Danny Stewart stretched the home sides lead to 4 in the third period before Adam Walker pulled one more back for the Clan with 9 minutes remaining. That was added to by Mike Bayrack to cut the lead to 2 with 4 minutes to go to unsettle the Flyers faithful. It was Bayrack again who got on the board in the final minute as the Clan poured forward looking for an equaliser. The Flyers though held on for their second win of the season.
Fife coach Danny Stewart had asked his team for wins this week and it was just what he got but it will need to become a habit if the Flyers are to make the playoffs. Braehead will be disappointed not to take the win tonight and know that they cannot afford many more bad nights if they are to finish as the top Scottish side for the second year in a row.
Coventry Blaze 3 Edinburgh Capitals 2 (APS)
Coventry had seemed to have found their form again following their 7 – 2 demolition of Dundee but that form once again deserted the Blaze. The Capitals feeling ever more comfortable in their Murrayfield rink took the lead in the first two periods thanks to two goals from Holecko and Jarolin.
The third period sparked the Blaze back into life with a goal from Kralj inside the first 30 seconds of the third. That was added to by Bakrilk and the scores were tied at the end of regulation. The turn around was completed by the Blaze but only after penalty shots.
The 4 point weekend will steady the Coventry Blaze ship but it will take a more convincing whole game performance than tonights effort to show their disgruntled fans that the Blaze are still a championship side. Edinburgh though will look on tonights game though as proof they can mix it with the top sides but will need to bring that workmanship to the whole game more often as they look to be the top ranked Scottish team.
Sheffield Steelers 3 Hull Stingrays 2 (AOT)
Sheffield may have been the favourites going into the game but they were shocked straight out of the blocks as Tendler put the Stingrays ahead after 20 seconds. But the Elite League champions found their feet soon afterwards as new signing Luke Fulgham scored his first goal for the club and took the lead in the second through Ryan Finnerty.
The third period saw Hull take to the fore and managed an equaliser through Jason Silverthorne with five minutes to go that sealed a point for the Stingrays.
It didn't take long though for the extra point to be decided when Mike Ramsay on his second game back from injury netted the overtime winner with 24 seconds on the clock.
The win means that an understrength Steelers take 4 points from two tricky games this weekend. An important result in the race for the title with the Panthers and Giants also taking the wins.
English Premier League
The league leads Guildford were in the mood to show everyone else that they were back in their unstoppable form as they took apart the Bracknell Bees to notch up their seventh win in a row. Meanwhile fellow league leaders Slough were locked in a battle for the second night in a row with the Steeldogs but the Jets came out on top by a single goal at Ice Sheffield.
Up in Manchester the Phoenix's home struggles continued as they faced the Basingstoke Bison and let a two goal lead slip in the second period to fall by an odd goal.
At the bottom end of the table it was poor final night for outgoing Peterborough netminder Stephen Wall. The Phantoms were on the wrong end of a drumming from a Swindon side that could be finally showing the potential they showed at the start of the season. Peterborough still remain a point a drift at the bottom as Telford fell at home to the Milton Keynes Lightning.
Results
Bracknell Bees Guildford Flames
Basingstoke Bison 4 Manchester Phoenix 3
Milton Keynes Lightning 4 Telford Tigers 1
Slough Jets 1 Sheffield Steeldogs 0
Swindon Wildcats 8 Peterborough Phantoms 1
Neil Tucker
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