Wednesday: Flames and Giants battle for top spot
Photo: John Uwins
Guildford Flames and Belfast Giants meet at the Spectrum on Wednesday night in a direct battle for first place in the Viaplay Elite League.
The Flames have sat on top of the table for most of this season, but a loss in Belfast just before the break saw the gap reduced down to just two points. The Giants' win in Nottingham on Tuesday brought them level on points at the top although the Flames have two games in hand. Whoever wins tonight, however, will end the night on top of the standings.
Guildford have won both of their two home league meetings between the teams this season by a single goal but were shut out 4-0 when the Giants last visited in cup action in December. They are the league's third-best home team with only four defeats in 18 games on their own ice. The teams will meet again this season for two more games in Belfast.
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In Coventry, the fifth-placed Blaze welcome Manchester Storm to the Skydome as both teams look for a way to close the gap on the teams above them.
The Blaze have found themselves sandwiched in fifth for several months now, and have slipped to nine points behind the top four. A 13-point advantage on following any lower, however, should see them into the playoffs without much trouble. For Manchester the situation is much different. Storm have chipped away at Nottingham above them without every being able to go ahead of the Panthers whom they now trail by four points.
