Saturday: Penultimate five-game schedule of the season
Photo: Panthers Images
All ten teams are in action this Saturday night in Week 28, which is both the penultimate weekend and the penultimate five-game schedule of the season.
Belfast Giants host Glasgow Clan at the SSE Arena with two very different things on the line. The Giants' midweek win in Cardiff saw them cling on to a small chance of finishing second this season, although they need to win out to do it. Glasgow, meanwhile, are engulfed in a five-way battle for three playoff places. Their Friday night defeat to Dundee saw them drop out of the playoff places.
Click here to watch Giants vs. Clan.
Dundee Stars' hopes of making the playoffs were given a boost with Friday night's win in Glasgow. They still have two games against Fife next weekend after tonight, but find themselves in a playoff position heading into their final four fixtures. Manchester, meanwhile, know they're going to finish fourth or fifth and are likely to play Guildford in the playoffs. For them, it's all about building momentum as they look for their first ever Playoff Finals Weekend appearance.
Click here to watch Stars vs. Storm.
Nottingham Panthers gave themselves hope of making the playoffs with a vital win in Fife on Thursday night, but know they may well have to win all of their final four games to get there. They face a Coventry Blaze team that has picked up only five points from the last 20 on offer, and are themselves battling to keep themselves in a playoff spot. Coventry's inferior regulation wins total would likely see them lose out on a tiebreak to every other team in the race, so points on the board will be crucial for them heading into the final stretch.
Click here to watch Panthers vs. Blaze.
League Champions Sheffield Steelers have the luxury of playing their final five games of the regular season with the season's biggest trophy already in the bag. The Steelers secured the league title last weekend on home ice, and now face a Devils team that stopped them winning it on the road two games earlier. Cardiff are all-but guaranteed to finish second, unless they fail to pick up any points between now and the end of the season, but would doubtless enjoy spoiling the Steelers' party.
Click here to watch Steelers vs. Devils.
Fife Flyers' midweek defeat at home to Nottingham saw them drop two places in the standings as they look for their first playoff appearance since 2019. They are part of the five-way battle for three places in the top eight. With three of their last four games at home, the Flyers do somewhat have it in their own hands. Guildford could, technically, still be dragged down into that race but their seven-point cushion will likely be enough to keep them fifth.
