Cats Get the Cream in the Derby Clash
Every team in the EIHL were action today as the busy festive schedule continued. However there was little doubt were the game of the day would be as the Steelers Panthers home and home series shifted down the M1 to the sold out NIC. Elsewhere it was the Giants turn to host the Clan whilst Coventry and Hull returned to action following their day off yesterday.
There were games too in the EPL as Manchester and the Sheffield Steeldogs played out the roses game and league leaders Guildford played Bracknell.
Aside from the league match ups the first British Hockey Legends match up has been announced. The game will feature the Whitley Warriors and the Durham Wasps on May 6th at the Whitley Bay Ice Rink.
Sheffield Steelers 1 Nottingham Panthers 5
Nottingham went one better than the night before by limiting the Steelers to 1 goal on their way to taking the festive bragging rights.
Second period strikes from Myers, Beauregard and Francis all took advantage of some lax defending by Sheffield to set up the win. Myers and Francis then put the game to bed in the third period both with their second of the game.
The win keeps the Panthers above the Steelers in second place but more importantly to their fans it is 2 wins against the enemy.
Cardiff Devils 5 Edinburgh Capitals 3
After a quiet start the game came to life in the third period. A Jarolin double inside 6 minutes of the third period had seemed to set up a strong finish for the Capitals. However the Devils sparked into life with 9 minutes on the clock scoring four times through Richardson, MacRae, Voth and an empty netter from Davies.
It was a second successive defeat for the Capitals who need to get back on winning ways to have a push for the playoffs.
Hull Stingrays 2 Coventry Blaze 5
Coventry’s recent good run of form had seen many people forget about their off ice struggles and tonight’s win was no exception.
A strong first period with goals from Fussey and Jurynec set the Blaze on their way. Even when Hull did get on the score sheet it made little impact as the home team pressed on and kept the 2 points.
Braehead Clan 4 Belfast Giants 1
In the second of the teams home and home series the roles were reversed. Tonight it was the turn of the Giants to look slow and under performing. Even Craig Peacock’s third period goal for the Giants did little to alter their fortunes as the Clan had already ceased the initiative thanks to goals from McPherson, Campbell and a brace from Bayrack.
It will be disappointing for the Giants not to come out on top of this one but with Sheffield loosing again the damage is not as bad as perhaps it could have been.
Dundee Stars 1 Fife Flyers 2
Dundee travelled to Fife boosted by their first win under Brent Hughes the night before but they fell behind early against bottom side Fife. The Flyers scoring through Nicolson before the Stars did find an equaliser with Mazur. That was not the end of the scoring however as Mike Hamilton netted late on what was to be the game winner.
It turned out to be a very disappointing result for the Stars who would have hoped for more following their defeat of the Edinburgh Capitals the night before. The Stars do however remain in the final playoff spot due to Hull’s defeat to Coventry. Fife though were delighted with the win as the team answered Coach Dutiaume’s call for wins in a match up they need to win if they are to make the playoffs.
EPL
With both Slough and Milton Keynes not in action Guildford took full advantage by beating Bracknell to move 2 more points clear at the top. Elsewhere the roses clash in Manchester was a tight affair as the home side came back from 2 down twice to win on penalties in front of a bumper crowd in the Altrincham Ice Dome. At the foot of the table the Telford Tigers eventually beat the Phantoms after penalties and Basingstoke showed some skill and flair to beat the Swindon Wildcats.
The results mean that the Flames move 8 points clear at the top of the EPL whilst Manchester jump above the Steeldogs into 4th place.
Sheffield Steeldogs 4 Manchester Phoenix 5 (APS)
Telford Tigers 5 Peterborough Phantoms 4 (APS)
Basingstoke Bison 6 Swindon Wildcats 1
Guildford Flames 5 Bracknell Bees 3
Neil Tucker
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