Tonight: Top 3 all at home

Photo: William Cherry

Sheffield Steelers, Cardiff Devils and Belfast Giants all have home fixtures on Saturday night as they look for advantages in the title race.

1900 Belfast Giants vs. Coventry Blaze (Tickets | Webcast)
Belfast welcome Coventry to the SSE Arena for the first of a weekend double-header between the two teams.

Belfast got back to wininng ways last Sunday with victory in Guildford to end a two-game negative series. The Giants have only lost one game on home ice in the league this season, and go into the weekend needing maximum points as they trail leaders Sheffield by five having played an equal number of games.

The Blaze head into Belfast off the back of a shootout win over Guildford, a result which lifted them back into the playoff places. Danny Stewart's team have played the fewest amount of games in the league with just 22 so far, but on points percentage would be equal-fifth.

1900 Cardiff Devils vs. Nottingham Panthers (Tickets | Webcast)
Cardiff host Nottingham at Ice Arena Wales for only the second time so far this season as second plays fourth in the standings.

The Devils blanked basement side Fife 4-0 on Friday night to move back on level points with Sheffield, but have still played four games more than the Steelers. It's said nearly every time Cardiff play, but they really have very little option other than to win if they want to stay in the title hunt.

Nottingham head into Cardiff in indifferent form. After winning five on the spin when Mark Matheson took interim charge of the team, the Panthers have now lost four straight games They find themselves only three points clear of fifth place as they enter the final half of their league fixtures.

1900 Sheffield Steelers vs. Fife Flyers (Tickets | Webcast)
Leaders Sheffield face last-placed Fife at the Utilita Arena as they try to build another lengthy winning run.

The Steelers' nine-game win streak came to an end last Sunday in Dundee, but they bounced back immediately with a midweek overtime win over Glasgow to stay out front with 83% of points collected from their 26 games so far.

Fife's woes continued on Friday night in Cardiff where they were shut out 4-0. The Flyers have now lost 10 straight and won just one of their last 16 in all competitions. Despite his side's form, Shane Owen is still stopping over 91% of shots he faces each game.

This will be Fife's final visit to Sheffield of the regular season, having lost by a combined score 16-3 in two league and one cup trip this season.