Tonight: Full Sunday closes busy week

Photo: Al Goold

We've had a game every day this week bar one, and this evening's game end a busy week in the Elite Ice Hockey League with the league table starting to take some shape after an incredibly tight opening four months.

1600 Belfast Giants vs. Coventry Blaze

The Giants and Blaze meet on Sunday afternoon for part two of their doubleheader in Belfast. The hosts were comfortable 4-1 winners in yesterday's meeting, while Coventry were left to bemoan a poor start that cost them three goals.

"Coventry have a team that skate very well and with a lot of quality throughout the roster. We played well yesterday but definitely expect a pushback from them today." - Jeff Mason (Assistant Coach, Belfast Giants)

"We got a little better as yesterday's game went on but still not to the level we've been at in the past few weeks. We just have to be better, it will always be a tough battle against Belfast but we have a lot more to offer." - Danny Stewart (Head Coach, Coventry Blaze)

1630 Glasgow Clan vs. Sheffield Steelers

League leaders Sheffield head to Glasgow after both teams were victorious last night.

Glasgow's shootout win in away to Fife came despite conceding a late equaliser and will have the Clan players in confident mood heading back on to home ice. The Steelers powered passed Guildford with impressive second and third period displays to move out five points clear at the top of the table.

"I loved our performance against Fife, players were throwing themselves in front of shots with no regard for themselves and giving everything for the team. I don't think Sheffield have seen our best lately and we can bring it on to them." - Zack Fitzgerald (Head Coach, Glasgow Clan)

"We control our own destiny at the moment and have put us in a position to be chased with our performances over the last four months. We have to find a way to keep stringing games together and at the moment I like where we're at." - Aaron Fox (Head Coach, Sheffield Steelers)

1730 Manchester Storm vs. Nottingham Panthers

With five points from the last six available, Manchester have become one of the league's form sides in early 2020 and a win yesterday moved them into the playoff places for the first time in several months. 

Nottingham beat Dundee the hard way after giving up a three-goal lead, but with eight points form the last 10 the Panthers are also on a good run of form themselves. This is the Panthers' last league game before heading to the Continental Cup Final next week.

"There's no secret that we're short on bodies. This is our fourth game in five nights against some very quality opposition and the guys are feeling it, but when you're playing well you want to keep playing games. Nottingham have had success in our building this season but it's about us finding the energy and bringing our best again." - Ryan Finnerty (Head Coach, Manchester Storm)

"At the beginning of this season it was a major adjustment for a lot of our players going into Manchester, but now they're used to it and know what sort of a game we have to play there - it doesn't have to be pretty, we just have to shoot from anywhere and get pucks to the net thorough the night." - Tim Wallace (Head Coach, Nottingham Panthers)

1800 Cardiff Devils vs. Fife Flyers

2020 has not been kind to Cardiff so far. The Devils have managed one goal in 120 minutes of hockey since the turn of the year and conceded nine - falling back to five points off top spot in the league.

Fife ended a string of zero-point games by picking up one in an overtime defeat to Glasgow yesterday and had the boost of a late tying goal to left both themselves and their home crowd.

"I expected us to have more horses at the races in Manchester and we didn't. It sounds cliché, but we have to get back to playing to our identity as we did for that good six-week period we had before. We need a big home performance now." - Andrew Lord (Head Coach, Cardiff Devils)

"I thought we played well against Glasgow, and often we did everything but score. This will be arguably a tougher game but the players can't be too down on themselves because it was a good performance yesterday." - Todd Dutiaume (Head Coach, Fife Flyers)

1800 Guildford Flames vs. Dundee Stars

In the run-up to Christmas, this would have been the league's form team hosting its worst. However, a few games has changed all that and Guildford, with just three points from their last five games, host a Dundee side that has lost just once in regulation since Christmas. The Flames were soundly beaten in Sheffield yesterday, while Dundee came from behind to earn a point in Nottingham.

"Last night was very uncomfortable for us. There are no easy fixtures home or away but I'm looking for a lot of players to give me more effort tonight in Guildford." - Paul Dixon (Head Coach, Guildford Flames)

"Our fans were great in Nottingham and the guys fed off that too - they mentioned it in the locker room. We're playing good hockey and it's now a time to build consistency and a full 6o-minute game." - Omar Pacha (Head Coach, Dundee Stars)