Belfast Giants 3 Nottingham Panthers 2
The Belfast Giants came away with the 2 points after a tight and nervy game at the NIC. Nottingham had taken the lead in the first period through Lee and Lachowicz and had looked confident with the 2-goal advantage going into the final period.
But Belfast showed their championship form as Adam Keefe and Robert Dowd equalised with 2 minutes to go. But the Giants weren’t done as with 8 seconds remaining the Kuiper fired the winner and gives the Giants an edge in the title race.
Sheffield Steelers 5 Coventry Blaze 3
It was Coventry’s turn to host the Steelers as they attempted to break their duck against the Yorkshire side. The Blaze looked to have gotten off to the perfect start as Robert Farmer twice put the Blaze in the lead before Owen Fussey opened up a 2 goal lead.
That was before 3 minutes of hell for the Coventry Blaze as Hewitt, Legue and Clark levelled the scores and Mike Ramsay added the insurance marker with 90 seconds to go.
The win lifts the Steelers into second place and keeps the Steelers on target for a March 16th and 17th showdown with the Giants in the Odyssey.
Cardiff Devils 3 Edinburgh Capitals 2
It was a tight game on the big ice in Edinburgh but the team from the small rink controlled the game. Early goals from Pierce and Frank gave the Devils a lead that they wouldn’t relinquish.
Jarolin’s late first period goal gave the Capitals a chance but Vanderveekeen and Zemburgs traded second period goals to keep the visitors in the lead and keep them in control of forth place in the league table.
Dundee Stars 2 Hull Stingrays 3 (AOT)
At the bottom of the table the Dundee Stars were in Hull looking for revenge for the previous nights defeat and to get their playoff aspirations back on track.
2 first period goals from Hughes and Kalonos gave the Stars the lead after the Stingrays had scored in the first 30 seconds. That was how it stayed until Rodin hit the back of net in the third period and send the game to overtime. It was Hull star Osman though that hit the winner for a 4-point haul from the weekend for the Stingrays.
The point for the Stars though lifts them clear of the Flyers at the foot of the EIHL and one closer to the Capitals in the last playoff spot.
English Premier League
It wasn’t quite another record-breaking night in the EPL but there was another big defeat for the Telford Tigers as fellow strugglers Peterborough putting 12 goals to two past a hapless Tigers side who conceded 21 goals this weekend. It was an import victory with the Wildcats not playing meaning the Phantoms edge closer to the playoffs.
Further at the top the Basingstoke Bison edged out the Milton Keynes Lightning in what is quickly becoming a battle of the mid-table. Whilst at the top there was an important win for the Sheffield Steeldogs as they came back against the Manchester Phoenix to win the roses game on penalties. That was excellent news for the league leaders Guildford who dropped a point in a tricky away tie with Bracknell. The home side finally edging it on penalties after a closely fought battle all game.
Those results mean that Guildford stay 6 points clear at the top of the table whilst the Steeldogs remain in contention in third. Slough who had the night off also cannot be counted out with their games in hand.
Results
Elite League
Sheffield Steelers 5 Coventry Blaze 3
Belfast Giants 3 Nottingham Panthers 2
Dundee Stars 2 Hull Stingrays 3 (APS)
Cardiff Devils 3 Edinburgh Capitals 2
EPL
Manchester Phoenix 1 Sheffield Steeldogs 2 (APS)
Guildford Flames 5 Bracknell Bees 6 (APS)
Peterborough Phantoms 11 Telford Tigers 2
Milton Keynes Lightning 2 Basingstoke Bison 3
Neil Tucker
www.bluelinehockeyblog.wordpress.com
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