EIHL week 7 round-up
A split weekend for the Rapid Solicitors Elite Ice Hockey League teams with Saturday seeing all ten teams involved in regular season action but on Sunday it was the Challenge Cup that occupied the thoughts of the six teams involved that night.
The results from Saturday saw no change at all at the top end of the standings with all four leading teams picking up a win. Leaders Belfast were perhaps the most impressive of all as they won their 11th straight game in all competitions, travelling to Wales and defeating Cardiff by 6-2. It’s no secret that the ‘Big Blue Tent’ is the most difficult place in the Elite League to go and get a result and for Giants to win so well speaks volumes for their display on the night.
It was certainly a night to remember for Jon Pelle as the 2010/11 Devil scored a hat trick on his competitive debut for Giants, after missing the start of the season with a knee injury picked up during pre-season.
Nottingham and Sheffield remain locked on 18 points, 3 behind Giants but both tasted victory on Saturday. Panthers travelled to a Hull side who just can’t buy a result these days and not for the first time this season the home side lost out by the odd goal. Corey Neilson’s men prevailed on a 3-2 scoreline with the game winner coming from British stalwart Marc Levers in the 45th minute, this being a 6th straight league win for the Lace City side. Stingrays though have now lost their last 6 in all competitions!
Sheffield won in Dundee and impressed by blanking the team from Tayside by 4-0 with John DeCaro posting a 46 shot shutout and player/coach Ryan Finnerty led by example with a brace.
In the other games Braehead moved closer to opponents Coventry by coming out on top 4-2 at Braehead Arena in a game notable for Clan only having 11 shots on target in the whole game but having enough quality to make them count. An eventful night for Mike Bayrack as he scored what proved to be the game winner on his home debut but was later ejected on a 5+game for elbows.
The Scottish derby in Kirkcaldy saw Edinburgh sneak an overtime win against Fife after the team had shared 4 goals in regulation. Capitals hero was Rene Jarolin who popped up to net the winner in the 4th minute of the extra period. This result saw Capitals move above Flyers in the standings – a huge boost for the troubled side from Scotland’s capital city.
On to Sunday and Challenge Cup match-up’s. The big clash was in Group B where we had Sheffield and Nottingham face-off for the first time this season. Almost 6,000 were there to see Panthers dominate completely and by the 55th minute they had built up a 4-0 lead. A couple of late goals for Steelers but a better complexion on the final result but Panthers were worthy victors on the night, almost securing their last four spot and holding the bragging rights for the time being.
The other game in Group B saw Coventry take the points with a 4-2 win over slumping Stingrays. The Blaze new signing Dustin Wood impressed for the home side and scored on his home debut as Blaze kept alive their hopes of a semi-final slot just about alive. Group A had one game and it saw Dundee’s offence spring to life as they took the points against Capitals, winning 7-3 in a game that was tighter than the final score shows, with Stars scoring 3 times in the final 7 minutes to pull clear. Jarrett Konkle had a very productive night with 2+2 for Dan Ceman’s men.