Tonight: Full Festive Saturday
Photo:
All ten Elite League teams are in action on this last weekend before Christmas – and it’s league-only action across the board! Here’s what’s coming up tonight:
1800 Guildford Flames vs. Coventry Blaze
Coventry Blaze head to Guildford looking for their first win against the Flames in six attempts there this. The Flames have won all six of the teams’ meetings this season scoring at least four goals in all of them.This time however the Blaze will be hoping to keep their hosts’ scoring down with the debut of new goalie CJ Motte. These teams met last season when the Blaze debuted a new netminder – that game on 12 January ended 8-7 to Coventry and was the Blaze’s last win in competitive matches in Guildford.
In league games, Guildford have won their last six in a row and have won seven of the last nine at home. Coventry will have David Broll back from injury.
“Our room had their heads down after going out of the Challenge Cup but we’ve been playing some good hockey over the last four to five weeks and that’s what we have to carry on going into this weekend. Coventry have made a goalie change and that can give teams a boost, but we just have to worry about ourselves and what we bring each night.” – Paul Dixon (Head Coach, Guildford Flames)
“No player ever wants to miss games, and especially for myself this season, I'm loving my hockey right now and playing for the fans of Coventry so this has put a big smile on my face. I can't wait to get back on the ice and help the team in the big stretch of games that we have coming up." – David Broll (Forward, Coventry Blaze)
1900 Belfast Giants vs. Cardiff Devils
Belfast and Cardiff meet for the third time in 10 days with the Giants hoping for a much better outcome than the previous two games.The Giants were shutout home and away by the Devils in the Challenge Cup to fall out at the Quarter-Final stage. They strengthened their roster with the addition of former Dundee forward Elgin Pearce on Friday, and he is expected to be cleared to play tonight. The Teal Army will be hoping for a change of fortunes after being blanked in three of their last five games.
Despite their success in the cup, Cardiff have yet to beat the Giants in league play this season losing both games in Wales. Since those defeats, the Devils have won on to win six of their last seven games in all competitions.
If Sheffield lose in regulation, whichever of these teams wins tonight will go top.
“It was men vs. boys on Wednesday and we have to be a lot better in all areas of our game. It really is that simple.” – Adam Keefe (Head Coach, Belfast Giants)
“We had a great win against Belfast in the cup but will expect a big reaction from them tonight, especially in their own building. There were lots of things I liked about our game on Wednesday and this is what we have to do for 60 minutes every night.” – Andrew Lord (Head Coach, Cardiff Devils)
1900 Manchester Storm vs. Fife Flyers
Fife’s first trip to Manchester should see them well-backed by a full bus of the Flyers’ supporters club there support them. The only other meeting between the teams this season ended in a shootout win for the Storm in Kirkcaldy.This week Manchester were knocked out of the Challenge Cup despite a 3-3 tie at home to Sheffield – but the Storm have only one win in seven across all competitions. Fife have had a week without any games thus far and are trying to end a run of three straight losses.
1900 Nottingham Panthers vs. Dundee Stars
New Stars' signing Matt Carter makes his debut for Dundee at the home of the last Elite League team he played for – Nottingham. The arrival of him and Alex Schoenborn are what the Stars hope will turn their run of bad form around; it’s seven straight losses for the Taysiders in all competitions.
The Panthers missed out on the chance to close the gap on the league’s top four with a home defeat to Manchester last Sunday, but are nevertheless only two points away from breaking into the top four.
“Dundee have some skill up front, they have some dangerous players and they’ve also made some moves too. I’m sure they will be desperate for a change of form, but we know from playing them earlier in the season that they’re a hard-working team.” – Tim Wallace (Head Coach, Nottingham Panthers)
“It’s no secret that we’ve been disappointed with how our season has gone of late. At the beginning of the season we were scoring goals and playing well defensively, and both of these are things we need to get back to doing. We have made changes to the team and I’m excited to see these players in our line-up.“ Omar Pacha (Head Coach, Dundee Stars)
1900 Sheffield Steelers vs. Glasgow Clan
When the Steelers and Clan last met it was a battle between the league’s top two sides. Now, after some defeats the Clan have slipped to sixth as they travel to league leaders Sheffield.Sheffield are two points clear of the chasing pack but having played significantly more games than the teams below them they need to make sure they keep picking up points. By virtue of Belfast and Cardiff playing each other, a regulation defeat for the Steelers will see them knocked off top spot.
Glasgow are looking to end a run of three straight league defeats and to try and get back into the top five. These sides will meet in the Challenge Cup Semi-Finals next month.
“These are obviously two huge hockey games this weekend, but we are trying to do this one game at a time. Glasgow have had our number so far this season.” – Aaron Fox (Head Coach, Sheffield Steelers)
