Tonight: Two Games on Friday Night
Leaders face champions in Belfast
Week 15's hockey continues with two games this Friday night!
1900 Belfast Giants vs. Sheffield Steelers
The first of a double header in Belfast for the Steelers means the league leaders head over to the home of the defending champions for the first time this season. The two teams meet only 10 days or so after the Steelers put five past the Giants live on FreeSports.
Belfast average the highest number of shots per game among Elite League teams but have one of the league's worst scoring efficiency ratios. Tonight they face the team scoring the most goals per game on average in the Steelers. Sheffield come into this game top of the league by three points but having played at least three more games than the teams chasing them - two regulation wins for Belfast this weekend will see them climb above the Steelers.
"Of course they will want to beat us, and it wasn't the score they came to Sheffield looking for. We have to do the same thing again and that will be the way to beat them." - Mikko Kuukka (Defenseman, Sheffield Steelers)
1930 Manchester Storm vs. Glasgow Clan
Manchester will look to put midweek disappointment behind them when they face Glasgow on Friday night.
The Storm were soundly beaten 5-1 in Nottingham on Wednesday and failed to really trouble the Panthers. Back on their own ice, is where Ryan Finnerty's team need to start making sure they're picking up points - 9 points from as many games is a lower points percentage than the side have managed in past years. A win will still lift them into the playoff places.
Glasgow have made no secret of their injury troubles and will look to end a three-game losing streak in Manchester. On the road, Clan have lost five straight in the league since winning against Manchester two months ago.
"We'd been playing very well of late, on Wednesday night we took a bit of a step backwards but Nottingham played very well and took the game to us. We want to make this more of a blip on the radar, and make sure we're ready for Glasgow." - Ryan Finnerty (Head Coach, Manchester Storm)
