Saturday: Teams looking to close gaps

Photo: William Cherry

Saturday night in Week 20 of the Elite Ice Hockey League season sees eight teams playing across the evening.

With Cardiff Devils in Continental Cup action, Belfast Giants and Sheffield Steelers are both making up their games in hand on the league leaders. The Giants could end the weekend top of the table if they can win both of their home games, while the Steelers will go second if they win tonight. This game could have a huge effect on how many teams are going to contest the title race. In the meetings in Belfast so far this season, each team has a win each – the Steelers won both of the two games in Sheffield earlier in 2024, but the Giants did pick up a point in one of them. After tonight, they’ll only meet once more this season. The Giants added treble-winning captain David Goodwin last week, and he is cleared to play if required.

Click here to watch Giants vs. Steelers

Starting an hour earlier at 6pm, Guildford Flames welcome Dundee Stars to the Spectrum as sixth host eighth. The Stars are clinging onto a playoff place by just three points over Manchester, but have played four games more than Storm. Guildford, meanwhile, are two points away from the top five, but only four clear of being hauled back by seventh-placed Glasgow Clan.

Click here to watch Flames vs. Stars

It’s must win for both Manchester Storm and Fife Flyers from 7pm at the Storm Shelter with the two lowest-ranked teams in the league meeting each other. Storm are three points off a playoffs place and do have games in hand on Dundee above them but need to start putting points on the board to make up that gap. Fife are 15 points adrift at the foot of the table, and 18 off a playoff place, but have had encouraging signs recently and have been able to welcome players back from injury.

Click here to watch Storm vs. Flyers

Nottingham Panthers have the chance to close the gap on the top three when they take on Coventry Blaze at the Motorpoint Arena from 7pm. With Belfast and Sheffield playing each other, a win will move the Panthers at least a point closer to one of those teams, if not more. The Panthers put nine past the Blaze in Nottingham, and then won in Coventry during teams’ New Year double-header.

Click here to watch Panthers vs. Blaze