Wednesday: Four games on eve of Halloween
Photo: William Cherry
Four games take place across Wednesday night with Halloween themed evenings across the Elite League to begin Week 9's action.
It's Cup points on the line in Belfast where the Giants host Glasgow Clan. Last time these teams met, Clan scored two late goals to snatch a point in Belfast, a night after they'd beaten the Giants back in Glasgow. Last time out, Belfast picked up maximum points on a road trip to Guildford and Coventry, while Clan shut out Scottish rivals Fife for a home win. The teams are battling for both a place in the next round, as well as top spot in Group B.
Click here to watch Giants vs. Clan.
After defeats on Sunday night in the Cup, it's back to league action for Guildford Flames and Nottingham Panthers at the Spectrum. Indeed, both teams failed to pick up any points at all last weekend with defeats in each of their games. The Panthers came out of Guildford with a win when the teams met in the Cup earlier this season, but both have had indifferent starts to league action with five and four points from five games respectively.
Click here to watch Flames vs. Panthers
Qualification form Challenge Cup Group A is still very much possible for both Cardiff Devils and Coventry Blaze, although both ideally need to win this game to keep those hopes firmly alive. The Devils are six points off the automatic Semi-Final places, the Blaze one back on seven behind, but both have played three fewer games than second-placed Nottingham. Manchester Storm currently sit in third to make the "Elimination Game". Each team will have three games left after tonight, although the losers will likely have to win out and hope for some other scores in their favour to advance.
Click here to watch Devils vs. Blaze
A special offer night in Sheffield means there will almost 9,000 people inside the Utilita Arena to see the Steelers take on Fife Flyers. Sheffield currently sit fourth in the league although have only played five games, and with a healthy return of eight points from them. Fife, on the other hand, have managed to get just two in seven league fixtures thus far. The Flyers have also lost seven straight games in all competitions. It is the first time Martin Látal will return to Sheffield after playing for the Steelers two seasons ago.
