Sunday: Four games few teams can afford to lose
Photo: Al Goold
There are more big clashes in the Elite Ice Hockey League across Sunday as we enter the final weeks of the season.
Belfast Giants could give Sheffield Steelers their first back-to-back defeats of the season if they can follow up Saturday night's win at the Utilita Arena with another from 4pm. The Steelers haven't lost two in a row this campaign, but have now suffered a pair of consecutive defeats on their own ice for the first time in 2023/24. This is the Steelers game in hand over Cardiff, they could put the gap at the top back up to 11 points with a win.
Click here to watch Steelers vs. Giants.
Glasgow Clan moved up to sixth with an overtime win in Manchester, and could make it a four-point weekend with the visit of Nottingham Panthers to Braehead Arena. Clan have won three straight and picked up seven points out of the last eight on offer as they look to ensure they stay in the playoff places. For Nottingham, the five-point gap to make the post-season didn't get any bigger despite yesterday's defeat in Cardiff. They face Clan today and Fife on Tuesday - both of which they need to get points out of.
Click here to watch Clan vs. Panthers.
Dundee Stars and Coventry Blaze meet with both teams finding themselves looking nervously over their shoulders at the playoff trap door. Neither team can fall out of the top eight tonight, but poor recent form has seen them get closer than they may have expected a month ago. Dundee have lost three straight, while the Blaze were beaten yesterday in Fife after snapping their losing run midweek.
Click here to watch Stars vs. Blaze.
Fourth place is up for grabs when Manchester Storm host Guildford Flames in Altrincham. Storm saw their four-game winning run come to an end on Saturday night, but Head Coach Matt Ginn admitted picking up a point in that game was crucial for the standings. Guildford were soundly beaten in Nottingham on Wednesday night as they look for a positive result before next week's cup final.
