Saturday: A new name at the top of the table?

Photo: Dean Woolley

Sheffield Steelers will go top of the table if they can pick beat Manchester Storm when return home on Saturday evening. The Steelers entered the weekend third but moved up to second with a thumping win in Glasgow. That victory, combined with Belfast losing in a shootout in Cardiff, put the Steelers a point behind the league leaders, though having played a game more.

Manchester will face two of the top four this weekend, with Cardiff Devils the visitors to the Shelter on Sunday. They enter the weekend six points off a playoff place, with six games to play. They will realistically have to get something out of both games this weekend to stay in the race. The Steelers have won all three meetings between the teams this season in Sheffield, with Manchester’s last win at the Arena coming just over a year ago.

Click here to watch Steelers vs. Storm

Dundee Stars’ bid for a playoff place enters the final four games with a six-point lead of Manchester Storm chasing behind them. They welcome Coventry Blaze to the DIA for the final time this season with both previous games having gone past 65 minutes. The Stars won in a shotoout back at the start of November, while the Blaze took an overtime win later in the month. In Coventry, the Blaze won two of the three meetings between the teams.

While the Stars try to finish In a playoff place, the Blaze are already locked in but trying to end a three-game loss streak.

Click here to watch Stars vs. Blaze

Glasgow Clan are on home ice for the second time in just under 24 hours, and it gets no easier for them with the visit of Nottingham Panthers. The Panthers went into the weekend second but dropped to third on Friday night after Sheffield’s big win in Glasgow. That defeat left the Clan still mathematically short of confirming their place in the playoffs, and unable to move ahead in qixth.

Clan have beaten the Panthers in both games in Glasgow this season. In Nottingham, they’ve won two of three league games but were beaten in the Challenge Cup ‘Play-In’ game.

Click here to watch Clan vs. Panthers

The day’s final game comes from Kirkcaldy, where Fife Flyers take on Guildford Flames. While the Flyers are destined to finish tenth this year, Guildford could end up anywhere from fifth to seventh. They dropped a place to seventh after last week’s home defeat to Dundee, and Glasgow beating Belfast. Guildford have won all five meetings between the teams this season, scoring at least four goals in every game.

Click here to watch Flyers vs. Flames