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Elite Ice Hockey League: Weekend Review – Giants Stumble, Panthers Charge, and Playoff Race Heats Up

The latest round of EIHL fixtures delivered another weekend of intense action, shock results, and major implications for both the title race and the playoff battle. With Belfast Giants still leading the way, Sheffield Steelers and Nottingham Panthers remain hot on their heels, while the fight for the remaining playoff spots continues to intensify.

Friday Night Drama – A Tough Start for the Giants

The weekend got off to a flying start as Manchester Storm pulled off a shock 4-3 victory over league leaders Belfast Giants. This was a massive result for Manchester, who have struggled for consistency this season but showed resilience to edge out the Giants in a tightly contested game. Alexis D'Aoust was the star of the night, breaking the 50-point mark with a 3-point game (1G, 2A).

Elsewhere, Glasgow Clan delivered a statement win with a commanding 4-1 victory over Cardiff Devils. The result sent a message that Glasgow are determined to fight for a strong playoff position, while Cardiff were left licking their wounds after a disappointing start to the weekend.

Saturday’s Action – A Day of Surprises

The biggest shock of the weekend came in Sheffield, where the Steelers were dismantled 6-0 by Coventry Blaze. The home side, who have been chasing Belfast at the top of the standings, were left stunned as Coventry delivered a defensive masterclass while being ruthless in attack. Chase Gresock reached the 50-point mark with an assist in this game, capping off a fantastic weekend for the Blaze.

Meanwhile, Nottingham Panthers kept up their charge with a dominant 4-0 win over Dundee Stars. With a solid defensive performance and clinical finishing, the Panthers closed the gap on Sheffield and remain firmly in the hunt for the title.

Cardiff Devils bounced back in style with a 6-0 demolition of Fife Flyers, proving that their Friday night disappointment was just a blip. The Flyers, rooted to the bottom of the table, continue to struggle, and this result only emphasized the massive gap between them and the rest of the league.

In Guildford, Manchester Storm secured another big result, beating Flames 5-4 in a shootout. This huge 4-point weekend keeps Storm in the hunt for that final 8th-place playoff spot, and D'Aoust added another 2 points (1G, 1A) to extend his lead at the top of the player leaderboard.

Sunday’s Clashes – A Title Race & Playoff Battles

The drama continued into Sunday, with Belfast Giants falling again, this time in overtime against Glasgow Clan (2-3 OT). A rare slip by the league leaders, who gave up a 2-goal lead in the third period and lost in OT. This meant the league leaders failed to win either of their games over the weekend, dropping valuable points and allowing their title rivals to close in.

Sheffield Steelers bounced back from their humiliating loss on Saturday by putting on a goal-fest against Dundee Stars, crushing them 10-4. After a bollocking from Aaron Fox following Saturday’s disaster, the team came out guns blazing, but fans were left frustrated at the missed opportunity to close the gap to just two points on Belfast.

Meanwhile, Nottingham Panthers kept up their strong weekend with a 4-1 win over Fife Flyers, further cementing their position as serious contenders for the title. Now just one point behind local rivals Sheffield with a game in hand, they face the Steelers next Saturday (8/3/25) in what could be a crucial matchup. If they beat Glasgow on Wednesday, they could enter that game ahead of Sheffield.

Coventry Blaze continued their solid weekend with a narrow 3-2 win over Guildford Flames, keeping them well in the playoff mix and completing a fantastic 4-point weekend.

Glasgow Clan – The In-Form Team

After a blip last weekend, Glasgow Clan have now won 8 of their last 10 games, including victories against all of the current top four teams. With 12 games remaining and two games in hand over Coventry and Guildford, they have a real possibility of climbing the standings.

The acquisition of Cole Ully from Cardiff Devils in the off-season has proven to be a brilliant move, as Ully has now hit the 50-point mark for the season. Glasgow’s form makes them a team to watch down the stretch.

League Standings: The Impact of the Weekend

  1. Belfast Giants – 43GP, 64PTS

  2. Sheffield Steelers – 44GP, 60PTS

  3. Nottingham Panthers – 43GP, 59PTS

  4. Cardiff Devils – 42GP, 52PTS

  5. Coventry Blaze – 44GP, 51PTS

  6. Guildford Flames – 44GP, 48PTS

  7. Glasgow Clan – 42GP, 45PTS

  8. Dundee Stars – 44GP, 38PTS

  9. Manchester Storm – 42GP, 33PTS

  10. Fife Flyers – 42GP, 10PTS

Despite a disappointing weekend, Belfast Giants remain at the top, but their lead has been trimmed, with Sheffield and Nottingham breathing down their necks. Nottingham’s back-to-back wins and defensive dominance (best goals-against record in the league) make them a real threat.

Sheffield Steelers will be frustrated with their inconsistency, particularly after their heavy defeat to Coventry, but their resounding win over Dundee has kept them in the title race.

Cardiff and Coventry continue to battle for playoff positions, while Glasgow Clan’s impressive weekend has brought them closer to Guildford in the race for a higher seed.

At the bottom, Fife Flyers continue to struggle with just 10 points from 42 games, while Manchester Storm remain outside the playoff places but will take confidence from their strong performances this weekend.

What’s Next?

With just weeks remaining in the regular season, every game matters. Belfast cannot afford more slip-ups, Sheffield and Nottingham are poised to pounce, and the playoff race remains as tight as ever.

Can Belfast recover and hold onto their lead? Will Nottingham make a late charge for the title? And who will secure those crucial playoff spots? One thing is for sure – the run-in is going to be thrilling!

Stay tuned for next week’s action as the EIHL season reaches its climax!

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