The last day of EIHL season proved to be a bit of a damp squid. The league title had already been decided and the finishing order for the runner-ups was decided at the conclusion of yesterday’s matches. Added to that because of fixture changes there were only 4 games on Sunday.
Braehead Clan 5 Sheffield Steelers 4
The early game in the EIHL was at the Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield. Despite both teams sealing a playoff birth the fans were in for a treat. Jeff Legue put the Steelers ahead after just 25 seconds before Jade Galbraith levelled the scores. The Clan then fell 2 behind twice as Philips and Stephenson scored before Walker pulled one back and Legue got his brace.
But the Clan showed they will not be put down for long and replied in the third period.
Goals from Bayrack and Campbell levelled the scores and the game appeared to be heading to overtime only for Wirll to scores the Clan’s winner with 3 seconds left. The scores will not change the league standings but the Clan will have fired a warning to their playoff opponents the Nottingham Panthers.
Dundee Stars 2 Hull Stingrays 6
It had been billed as a playoff spot decider earlier in the week but the failure of the Edinburgh Capitals to gain any points had put paid to that. However both teams will need the win to banish their poor form ahead of the playoffs. After a goalless first period the teams were tied again at the end of the second. And the teams remained knotted up until mid way through the third period when Osman scored to give the Stingrays the lead and Jerome Tendler completed his hat trick to assure the win for the Yorkshire outfit.
Coventry Blaze 3 Cardiff Devils 4
Thanks to the Blaze victory over the Devils in Coventry last night these two teams will meet again next weekend in the playoff quarterfinals. That made for a spicey confrontation as both teams aimed to get the psychological advantage ahead of the playoffs. A first period triple by the Devils gave them an advantage but a Guthrie brace kept the Blaze in the hunt but dispite a late consolation goal the Devils held on.
It may not make a difference for the league standings but this result will set up a tight playoff quarterfinal next weekend.
Fife Flyers 3 Edinburgh Capitals 11
The Capitals hosted the Forth derby on the back of two heavy defeats in the weekend. Despite both teams finishing outside of the playoffs there was local bragging rights at hand. Issues with the EIHL website meant that details were hard to come by. But this one was not for the faint hearted. Several fights had already broken out before a bench clearance occurred at the end of the second period. The Fife players then staged a delay to the start of the third before at least 4 more players were ejected. In between the fighting there were plenty of goals as the Capitals found there scoring sticks to put up 11 against the Flyers. The game ending 11 – 3 to the Capitals but with nine players on the Flyers bench and eleven on the Capitals in what will surely be of interest to the league officials.
Elite League Standings 2012
1. Belfast Giants 95pts
2. Sheffield Steelers 84pts
3. Nottingham Panthers 80pts
4. Cardiff Devils 76pts
5. Coventry Blaze 66pts
6.Braehead Clan 66pts
7. Hull Stingrays 36pts
8. Dundee Stars 32pts
9. Edinburgh Capitals 30pts
10. Fife Flyers 22pts
Playoff Fixtures
1. Belfast Giants – 8. Dundee Stars
2. Sheffield Steelers – 7. Hull Stingrays
3. Nottingham Panthers – 6. Braehead Clan
4. Cardiff Devils – 5. Coventry Blaze
The 2012 playoffs will take place over next weekend with a two legged quarter final ahead of the finals at the NIC on the Easter weekend.
EPL
The EPL works a week behind the EIHL but nonetheless the title had already been decided before the top two met at the Altrincham Ice Dome. The Phoenix despite being 4 players missing through injury did come out on top to boost their hopes of finishing second.
Slough’s hopes however were dealt a blow as they went down at bottom side Telford. The Steeldogs also lost ground as they went down on penalties to the Basingstoke Bison.
Whilst at the bottom of the table the race to the final playoff spot really hotted up. Ninth placed Peterborough thought they had done enough with a win over Swindon to move into the last spot before Bracknell pulled out a 4 point weekend to maintain the eighth place.
Scores
Sunday 25th March
EIHL
Braehead Clan 5 Sheffield Steelers 4
Coventry Blaze 3 Cardiff Devils 4
Dundee Stars 2 Hull Stingrays 6
Fife Flyers 3 Edinburgh Capitals 11
EPL
Guildford Flames 2 Manchester Phoenix 5
Swindon Wildcats 3 Peterborough Phantoms 4
Slough Jets 3 Telford Tigers 4
Sheffield Steeldogs 1 Basingstoke Bison 2 (APS)
Milton Keynes Lightning 3 Bracknell Bees 4 (AOT)
