UK Round Up 11th December
It was a quiet day in the EIHL with only 2 games on the Sunday night schedule and one in the Challenge Cup. In the EPL however there were some significant results in the race for the title.
Elite League
Hull Stingrays 6 Edinburgh Capitals 7 (AOS)
It was a critical game for both clubs as they both chase a higher playoff rank especially as neither side could be said to comfortably in the playoffs either.
It was the home side that got caught napping early on as Hull raced into a two goal lead inside the first 5 minutes but Zemburgs strike kept the Capitals in touch at the break.
After the break however all signs of defence went missing as Campbell’s second of the night restored the visitors 2 goal lead after 10 seconds before 3 goals in less than 10 minutes put the home side in the lead for the first time. The scoring was not done there however as Jerome Tendler grabbed a brace to give the Stingrays the lead at the second break.
That was not the end of the scoring as the Capitals regained the advantage at the start of the final period with Hartmann and Hanzal getting the goals but Tendler’s hat trick sent the game to overtime and penalties only for the Caps to take the win.
The penalty shootout loss will give the Stingrays a six point lead in the race for the final playoff spot but two points for the Caps lifts them back to within striking distance of the Clan in their bid to be number in Scotland.
Braehead Clan 3 Sheffield Steelers 4 (AOT)
Sheffield went into their third game in 3 nights with 2 wins already under their belt. But the Clan were looking to take advantage of any fatigue to secure a 4 point all for themselves.
It was the Steelers that started the brighter and did not show any sign of fatigue. The Sheffield team scoring with Ramsay and Legue with 5 minutes on the clock but then the Clan got into the game more. However it took until the second period before Jorgensen got the Clan up on the board. Although the Braehead outfit still pressed Jonathan Phillips managed to restore the Steelers’ 2 goal advantage.
That advantage wouldn’t last long into the third as Krestanovich and Jorgensen hit the net as the Clan went on to outshoot their opponents 41 to 26. A win however was not to come and the Steelers took the game to overtime for the second time in 3 nights. This time however was less controversial as new boy Francis Trudel scored his first for the club and gave the Steelers 2 more points in the pursuit of the Belfast Giants.
The Clan will be pleased to have come out of Sheffield with a point however after outshooting their opponents so convincingly they will surely be disappointed that they couldn’t take both points back to Glasgow. Sheffield however will see it differently. They will be delighted to have come away with 3 wins from 3 games in 3 nights and will be flowing with confidence as they hunt down the Belfast Giants.
Challenge Cup
Fife Flyers 1 Dundee Stars 7
With both teams unable to make the semi finals this game was a dead rubber but did give new Stars coach Brent Hughes a good opportunity to stretch his coaching legs at home.
Goals from Maclean, Dolan and Zarb gave the Stars a 3 goal lead at the first intermission and they never looked back. Turner and Macintosh added to that in the second to end the game as a contest and 2 more goals from Maclean and Hutchins completed the rout. Fife did get on the board in the third period through Mike Hamilton but it was all too late.
Although it was a dead rubber it was an important win for Dundee who will pleased to have gotten their first win at home in five attempts but they and new coach Brent Hughes know more wins like this will be needed if they are to reach the playoffs.
EPL
It was a decisive night in the EPL as the Guildford Flames claimed sole occupancy of the number one spot. A come back victory in Sheffield on penalties and the Slough Jets losing to the Milton Keynes Lightning meant that the Flames take a 2 point lead over the Jets at the top. But they know they cannot be complacent as those results mean that 3 points now separate the top three in the league.
Elsewhere the Phantoms failed to make it a 4 point weekend as they lost at home to the ever inconsistent Manchester Phoenix. Peterborough however do remain 2 points clear of the bottom as Telford went down to the Bracknell Bees who bounced back from their heavy defeat the night before.
Results
Slough Jets 3 Milton Keynes 4
Guildford Flames 5 Sheffield Steeldogs 4 (APS)
Bracknell Bees 3 Telford Tigers 1
Neil Tucker
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