Wednesday: Steelers and Panthers with game in hand on Giants

Photo: Dean Woolley

There are three games on Wednesday night in Week 25 of the 2024/25 Elite Ice Hockey League season.

Second-placed Sheffield Steelers got a huge win over leaders Belfast on Sunday to cut the gap down to six points, and now play their game in hand on the Giants. The visitors to the Utilita Arena are last-placed Fife Flyers, without a win since 18 January. The Flyers have few wins this season, but one of them was over the Steelers in Kirkcaldy in December, but have been beaten by a combined score of 13-2 in their two visits to Sheffield this season. The Steelers have won two straight since their defeat in Coventry and could head into the weekend just four points off the top, ahead of meeting third placed-Nottingham Panthers on Saturday night. New signing Reece Kelly is eligible to ice for the hosts.

Click here to watch Steelers vs. Flyers

Nottingham Panthers, seven points off leaders Belfast in the league standings, play their game in hand on the Giants with the visit of Guildford Flames to the Motorpoint Arena. The Panthers have won two straight since a home defeat to Glasgow in a shootout, and have not lost in regulation in the league since 11 January – a run of 11 games. The Flames were beaten in both of their games last weekend and have now lost five in a row – and eight of their last ten.

Click here to watch Panthers vs. Flames

At Braehead Arena, Clan welcome Manchester Storm in a clash of two teams hoping to ensure they’re in the playoffs. Clan have opened up a 10-point gap on the Storm to leave themselves comfortably in the playoff places. Corey Neilson’s team have won five straight games and could end the night just two points off sixth. Storm’s defeat to Dundee on Friday night didn’t help their cause, and they now sit nine points off the pace. With only three games in hand, they’ll need to then win another two more than the Stars over their last 14 games – and that’s assuming they win the three in hand, one of which is this fixture tonight. Realistically, Storm cannot afford to leave Glasgow empty-handed.

Click here to watch Clan vs. Storm