Friday: Big night at top of table
Photo: William Cherry
After the busy Christmas and New Year schedule it's a huge Friday night ahead in the Elite Ice Hockey league as teams resume normal weekend fixtures.
Belfast Giants host Sheffield Steelers at the SSE Arena in game that could have a big impact on the title race this season. The Giants are just two points off leaders Cardiff and have two games in hand, placing them first if you sort by win percentage. Sheffield, who also have a pair of games to make up on the Devils, are eight points off the pace. Belfast shut the Steelers out when the teams met before Christmas, but it was Sheffield who won the two previous meetings in Yorkshire. The Giants could end the night top of Cardiff lose.
Click here to watch Giants vs. Steelers
In Cardiff, the Devils take on Dundee Stars as both teams look for a win after defeat last time out. The Devils came through the festive period with a .500 record despite being short-benched, while the Stars picked up five points out of eight over the same period. Dundee sit in a playoff place, three points about Manchester, but have played four games more. They face the Storm in Dundee on Saturday night. The Stars haven't won in Cardiff since December 2021.
Click here to watch Devils vs. Stars
Separated by seven points, Manchester Storm and Glasgow Clan have been heading in different directions for the past month. Clan's good form has draw them clear of the teams chasing a playoff place, and left them only four points off the top six. Storm's up and down form since firing coach Mike Flanagan did have them in the playoff places, but a run of three straight loses has seen them split three points behind, although they do have four games in hand on Dundee. The home team has come out winners in the two meetings between the teams so far this season.
