Saturday: Full schedule as teams approach busiest period of season

Photo: James Assinder

There's a full schedule of action as teams take to the ice for the final weekend before the busy Christmas period.

It’s a huge game at the Vindico Arena with Cardiff Devils hosting Sheffield Steelers as the league leaders take on the defending champions. The Devils sit four points clear at the top of the standings, with Belfast Giants leading the chase behind them. Sheffield lost both games last weekend and fell back to eight points off the lead. The Steelers have already lost one league game in Wales this season, and including Cup the Devils have won both home fixtures so far in 2024/25.

Click here to watch Devils vs. Steelers

Coventry Blaze welcome Manchester Storm to the Skydome in a week where both teams have the chance to build on good results last weekend. The Blaze ended a short losing streak with two wins, both 7-1, over Scottish opposition. Those six points put them back into the top three following their impressive start. Manchester picked up an overtime point at home to Nottingham and then won in Cardiff in a shootout to make it three points out of four for interim head coach Mike Morin in Week 15.

Click here to watch Blaze vs. Storm

A Scottish derby at Braehead Arena sees Glasgow Clan take on Dundee Stars. After last Sunday’s home game for the Clan was abandoned after a period due to ice issues, Corey Neilson’s team remained seventh in the standings but saw themselves fall seven points behind the top six. Dundee’s pair of defeats to Coventry and Cardiff saw them drop outside of the playoff places.

Click here to watch Clan vs. Stars

With 15 points out of their last 16 games, Nottingham Panthers are the form side in the Elite League at the moment. They welcome a Guildford Flames team to the Motorpoint Arena that lost 9-0 in Sheffield midweek in Week 15, before having Sunday’s fixture in Glasgow called off after 20 minutes. The two sides are level on 23 points each in fifth and sixth respectively.

Click here to watch Panthers vs. Flames

Fife Flyers begin life under interim head coach Johnny Curran on Saturday night against in-form Belfast Giants. Tom Coolen left the club on Friday and the former Giant, who started the season in Fife before being ruled out by injury for the season, will be taking the reigns following his departure. The Flyers have just six points from 19 games, while the Giants are four points off the top of the table - and have a pair of games in hand.

Click here to watch Flyers vs. Giants