Sunday opens with huge title-race clashes

Photo: Dean Woolley

Sunday afternoon's games in the Premier Sports Elite League may well go a long way to deciding how the final half of the season plays out for the title race. Both games start at 4pm.

Nottingham Panthers vs. Belfast Giants (Tickets | Webcast)
On a three-game winning streak, the Nottingham Panthers head home hoping to extend their winning run against a team that has beaten them comfortably three times this season.

The Giants have 5-0 and 7-2 wins at the Motorpoint Arena this campaign and come into Nottingham off the back of a 7-1 win over Fife, and not having lost in regulation for 10 games.

These teams will meet on Wednesday back in Belfast in a Challenge Cup Semi-Final.

Sheffield Steelers vs. Cardiff Devils (Tickets | Webcast)
First plays third at the Utilita Arena in an incredibly important game for both teams, who will also contest a Challenge Cup Semi-Final on Wednesday night live on Premier Sports.

If Cardiff are to keep their hopes of a league title alive, they will need to leave Sheffield tonight with a win - and, from their perspective, ideally do it in 60 minutes.

The Devils, who came through 6-2 against Guildford on Saturday, trail the Steelers, by four points but have played just as many most games than their hosts.

Sheffield came out of Manchester with a comfortable victory yesterday, but have a choice to make in net - Barry Brust has played the majority of home fixtures, but started last night, while Rok Stojanovič played in the midweek defeat to Glasgow.

This is the last meeting between the two sides in league play, in Sheffield, for this year's regular-season - they will meet once more in Cardiff. The Steelers took an overtime win in September, while the Devils followed up with a five-goal, shutout victory on their second visit.