What Katy Did Next: EIHL Playoffs 2012-13 Part I
Katy Parles spent last weekend scoping out the Elite League Playoff Finals weekend, and we have the first in the three-part series covering all the action that went down at the National Ice Centre in Nottingham for the show-piece finale of the 2012-13 season.
PLAYOFF FRIDAY
13:15
It’s only the third year that I have attended EIHL Playoff weekend, but I’m already feeling my age. I’d normally already be in Nottingham, or at the very least I’d be heading in that direction, and if I didn’t have a pint in my hand yet, I soon would.
This year would be very different, as I attended a hockey weekend purely for hockey’s sake, and without the elixir of Strongbow to lubricate me, as I am currently ‘with child’. Yes, a teeny tiny hockey fan (possibly player?!) is growing within me and will, unbeknownst to it, be attending its very first playoff weekend this weekend at the tender age of 20 weeks.
Not only that, but I can’t deny the excitement just not being there in quite the same way it has been in my two previous years. It’s not hard to see where the critics of the current playoff set-up are coming from. Twice in two years to Nottingham Panthers have cruised to playoff victory, and it’s not difficult to understand why. Not only are they playing in front of a partisan crowd which, despite containing representatives from all of the ten Elite League sides, they are a very, very strong side who have always been ominously good on their own ice, dominating visitors to the NIC at the best of times, and when the pressure is on in a short series of the games, the Panthers always deliver.
To top this off, this season they have finally got their hands on the Elite League trophy – Corey Neilson has never been lauded so highly by those in Nottingham and they will be brimming with confidence coming into this weekend.
Add these factors to my previous experiences of Panthers’ wins and it’s really hard to see past a repeat of the past two years.
Am I jaded old cynic? Perhaps, but the reality of the situation is hard to ignore. The solution to the ‘playoff problem’ has been hotly debated up and down the league by fans and authorities alike but it certainly isn’t an easy one to find – Nottingham makes sense as a location, the NIC makes sense as a venue. The whole event is supposed to be neutral – but it’s hard to see how it ever could be in its current format.
So what chances did the other three teams have coming into the weekend? Was the name ‘Nottingham Panthers’ already being etched onto the playoff trophy somewhere in the recesses of the NIC, or would Corey Neilson and his superior batch of warriors be made to sweat? Could they really be pushed by any other team?
In recent years the Cardiff Devils have had good showings at the playoffs. In 2010/11, they deserved their place in the final after a fantastic season in which they ran Sheffield as close as could be for the league title with the subsequent final being a hard-fought affair.
Last year however, the Devils faced the newly crowned league champions the Belfast Giants in the semi-finals. They defied the odds to win past them and make the final. It was a fantastic and deserved result but privately, the neutral was sighing heavily inside as the Giants were believed to be really the only team who could challenge Nottingham on their own ice. This rang true as the Panthers eased to another victory in a final which although tight, never really looked as though it would go any other way.
“Anything can happen on the day”, “It’s only one game” and other such positive spins will be heard echoing around the arena over the weekend, and such delights as a Cardiff v Coventry final will be speculated upon, but for me, like last year, there is really only one way to prevent the Panthers lifting the trophy again, and that is a final against Belfast.
They are the team with the most strength in depth, and they ran the Panthers close in their race for the league, pipping them to the post in the Erhardt Conference. But first, the Giants have to get past the tenacious Coventry Blaze. A spirited rally from the West Midlands side could take them by surprise – watch this space for updates!
PLAYOFF SATURDAY
8:34
Saturdays should not start this early. In fact, this one started over an hour earlier, as I readied myself for a trip down south to join the rest of the Elite League fans at the hockey weekend of the year.
10:38
I arrive in Sheffield to change trains, and ponder how, once again, their team have failed to make finals weekend. What will the future hold for them? It remains to be seen and is probably dependent on who takes over the coaching role left vacant by Ryan Finnerty.
12:20
I am at one with Nottingham. And I swiftly realise that a sober playoff weekend is going to be one heck of a different experience.
12:50
In the heady heights of the media suite (la de da) I am disoriented, as the build up begins and I try to fathom whereabouts in the rink I actually am.
12:55
The announcement of the Nottingham Panthers is greeted by the loudest noise I have ever heard in an ice rink. The din is not far from sounding like a football crowd. These fans are jubilant and they expect their dominance to continue.
13:01
Er, what? This wasn’t in the script. Still feeling somewhat vertiginous and barely settled in my seat and the Cardiff Devils fans are celebrating: they are already off the mark, courtesy of Max Birbraer. Huh? I actually considered slapping myself. Focus, woman! Just three seconds had gone in the game and Gerad Adams men had made their intentions quite clear. They were not here to be also-rans; they would not let the Panthers walk away with this game. Immediately after the goal there are the first handbags of the game and Cardiff go on the powerplay, pressurising the Panthers once more and forcing a save from Craig Kowalski.
13:06
This is more like the playoff hockey I’ve come to expect: end to end, nervy, plenty of misplaced passes.
13:07
Cardiff netminder Chris Whitley knows absolutely nothing about Nottingham’s first goal as Bruce Graham taps it past him to equalise for the Panthers after five and a half minutes.
13:11
Another Devils powerplay, but this time the Panthers have it covered, the defence repelling pucks from the goalmouth at will. A great penalty kill from the home side.
13:20
The Devils aren’t disheartened and amidst a flurry of pressure, K-Wall is forced to make another great save from a long shot. Moments later, the imperious netminder is called into action again, one-on-one with Jesse Gimblett.
13:21
A minute later, Eric Werner find himself requiring dental treatment after being on the receiving end of Max Birbraer’s high stick. Blood is removed from the ice – and not for the first time today.
13:27
Just seconds into a powerplay, Nottingham take the lead, Jordan Fox feeding Bruce Graham whose one-timer leaves Whitley standing – a perfectly executed powerplay goal.
Nottingham are starting to exert their authority, and the Devils look vulnerable. However, Whitley makes a couple of saves to settle his jangling nerves and shortly after, Panthers miss a gift of a chance. It’s not over yet. We’re just getting started. There are some more handbags after David Clarke sends a Devils player careering into the boards, and it is Cardiff’s turn to miss a sitter on the resulting powerplay.
13:41
The period ends and you couldn’t make it up, as the Cardiff Devils players actually find themselves trapped on the ice as no-one seems to be available to open the doors and let them off.
13:52
I am to be found necking Celebrations in the media suite as my hungry inhabitant seems entirely unconcerned that the second period is about to start. I have a 2,500 calorie a day habit to maintain, after all, as well as a cider deficit to be compensated for.
The second period opens with a couple of easy early saves for K-Wall, before the sides trade powerplays, the Panthers’ the better of the two, a fantastic save from Whitley and an uncharacteristic fumble from David Ling the main reasons why Nottingham do not increase their lead. They do a few minutes later however, Matthew Myers working a great goal to increase the lead to two. K-Wall performs heroics shortly afterwards to prevent a Devils comeback, Cardiff trying everything to dig the puck across the line but they are literally up against a wall. There are some handbags for good measure. Well why not.
Controversy follows, as Pat Galivan is called for tripping much to the Panthers fans’ distaste . It must be said, it did look as though he robbed the puck fairly from the Devils player – but on the resulting powerplay, Chris Blight scores a fabulous goal, travelling coast to coast unchallenged before neatly despatching the puck into the top right corner of K-Wall’s goal. 3-2 – game back on!
14:12
Timecheck. The Devils fans have found their voices once again. The action is end to end. Whitley saves twice from a double attempt on goal. ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ rings around the arena as I wonder what it must be like in Chris Whitley’s head. He is having a rollercoaster performance today.
The Panthers fans remember they’re winning and raise the roof for all of 20 seconds. Even MORE handbags ensue – Prada could open an NIC branch at this rate. The period closes with a 4-on-4 after Lepine spoils for a fight with Gimblett and both sit for roughing.
The third period does not really kick into life until just over five minutes in, Myers slotting the puck home to make it 4-2 Panthers. I am now situated down among the Panthers-heavy crowd. Halfway through the period and the tempo has dropped along with the Devils’ heads as they finally seem to be out of ideas. There is a save at either end but nothing too troubling. With seven minutes to go the Devils agonisingly just fail to convert a fantastic chance. Another joint shove results in another 4-on-4 during which Bruce Graham completes his hat-trick with a coolly taken goal. 5-2.
What happened after that? Stu Macrae has a one-on-one attempt foiled by the Panthers defence. There’s a Cardiff powerplay, a timeout, and another mass handbag session. A Panther bizarrely manages to take out three Devils players in one go. Now that’s what I call a bouncing check (sorry). And with 1.30 left on the clock, Cardiff pull their netminder. Nottingham fail to score on the empty net, twice. The 6-on-5 pays off for the patient Devils, who score with just 43.9 seconds left on the clock. 5-3 – but not for long, as the Panthers will not fail on their third attempt at the empty net. Final score: 6-3.
Following the game, Panthers coach Corey Neilson spoke of how pleased he was with the win over a more aggressive Cardiff Devils side than they have been used to, and Bruce Graham noted his pride at scoring a hat-trick, the third in front of the Devils fans. Gerad Adams spoke of his surprise at Cardiff even qualifying for playoffs given the injury-ridden season they have suffered, and he was effusive over the contribution of the young players within the squad.
“It’s been an emotional rollercoaster,” said the Devils coach, “I thought we played well enough to win it. I can’t give the kids enough credit for the job they have done.”
It had been a great start to the weekend’s hockey action. Join me shortly for the next instalment!
