Saturday: Clan, Flyers and Stars in fight for playoffs
Photo: Mark Ferris
Three games in Saturday's Viaplay Elite League action have a big bearing on the race for the 2023 Playoffs.
In the day's early start, Guildford Flames welcome Glasgow Clan to the Spectrum for a game neither side can really afford to lose. The Flames lost ground in their chase for the league title last week with only two points from a possible six. They now trail Belfast by five with a game in hand, and will almost certainly need to pick up maximum points this weekend to keep their hopes alive. Glasgow have only three games left this season after tonight, and occupy the final playoff place by a point. Their showdown with Fife on Sunday may well decide who takes eighth place.
Click here to watch Flames vs. Clan!
At 7pm, in-form Coventry Blaze host Dundee Stars as both sides meet with very different priorities. The Blaze's excellent recent form has seen them win their last four games, and eight of their last ten. Those results have given them an outside chance of finishing fourth if they can keep collecting wins. Dundee are fast running out of time to make the playoffs. The Stars are eight points adrift with only seven games left, and are on a miserable run of form that has seen them lose nine straight games since beating Manchester on 4 February.
Click here to watch Blaze vs. Stars!
In Manchester, it's Storm's annual "Pink the Rink" night when they play hosts to Fife Flyers. Storm clinched a playoff place last weekend, their first since 2018, and are now fighting for sixth with Nottingham who they visit on Sunday. Fife are a point outside the playoff places but do have a game in hand on Glasgow who they face on Sunday. The Flyers have won both games at the Storm Shelter this season.
