Friday 25 January

Belfast Giants 2 Braehead Clan 6

A Belfast win could have returned them back to the top of the league standings for the first time since the 14th December. However, Braehead Clan produced a tremendous result to get only their third win on Irish soil.

Two goals 35 seconds apart in the 27th minute saw them double their lead after netting two in the first period. The Giants pulled back two of the goals in the third period. However, two shorthanded goals from the Clan sealed the victory.

The Clan fans that had made the trip over the Irish Sea were in a joyous mood when Robert Farmer put the visitors in front at 10.18. There were more celebrations at 16.19 as Ash Goldie doubled the Clan lead.

Belfast were finding it hard to get into the game and two quick goals from the Clan in the second session had them on their back foot. The Clan increased their lead with a strike from Toms Hartmanis at 26.17. Then 35 seconds later Jade Galbraith netted their fourth goal of the night. The Giants at this point called a timeout, they did manage to stop the Clan from getting any more goals in the period. However, they were unable to get on the score sheet themselves.

The game boiled up at 37.58 as Matt Hanson of the Clan received 2 minutes for illegal equipment plus a 5 minute fighting penalty. The Giants picked up a total of 42 minutes from the same incident as Adam Keefe was handed 2 minutes for instigator, 5 minutes for fighting and a 10 minute misconduct. His teammate Daryl Lloyd was ejected on a 5 for elbows plus a game misconduct.

Inside the first minute of the third period the Giants finally found a way past Machesney in the Clan goal as Will Colbert netted at 40.58. Less than 5 minutes later they were thrown a ray of hope as Colin Shields got their second goal at 45.50. With 10 minutes to play Belfast got a 4 minute powerplay as Hanson was binned for accidental high sticks. However, the Clan went nap as Toms Hartmanis with his second goal at 53.22 netted on a shorthanded play.

The icing was finally put on the cake at 56.51, with the Giants on the powerplay they pulled Zemlak for a two man advantage and Ash Goldie found the empty net as the Clan scored a second shorthanded goal.

Saturday 26 January

Belfast Giants 5 Edinburgh Capitals 0

The Giants made a fine recovery after their defeat last night at the hands of Braehead, with Garrett Zemlak picking up his third shutout in five games. By the eighth minute in the opening period the Giants had netted three goals in a three minute spell to take control of the game. Single markers in the second and third added to those three strikes in the first period without conceding gave the Giants the two points to keep the pressure on Nottingham.

The opener came from ex-Capital Mark Garside as he found the net at 4.48. The Giants doubled their lead with a powerplay goal from Craig Peacock at 6.21. Just over a minute later they were three in front as Darryl Lloyd dispatched the puck away at 7.41. Despite dominating the period the hosts could not add to their tally.

Belfast had the better of the second period but they could only get the one goal as David Phillips found the net on the 29th minute.

The hosts went nap with a shorthanded goal from Colin Shields at 45.40. After this is was a case of helping Zemlak record his shutout with their offensive unit only managing 5 shots on Hiadlovsky. They kept the Capitals at bay as Zemlak turned away all 20 shots he faced throughout the game.

Hull Stingrays 5 Fife Flyers 2

What a moral boosting win this was for the Stingrays, not only did it end a five game losing streak but it also lifted them from the bottom of the Gardiner Conference into third place, three points behind pacesetters Braehead. As for the Flyers this is now their fourth straight loss on the road.

The hosts went in front early in the game as Tom Squires netted at 2.18. Stingrays then doubled their lead at 8.45 with a powerplay strike from Jason Silverthorn. Although both teams had chances after this there was no more scoring and the home side went in at the break with a two goal lead.

The visitors pulled one back with a powerplay strike at 23.28 from the stick of Bobby Chaumont. However, Stingrays player/coach Sylvain Cloutier restored his sides two goal advantage at 27.52. Kris Hogg with another Flyers powerplay reduced the deficit to a single goal once again as he found the net at 32.35. However, Cloutier had the last say in the period as he netted on the powerplay at 38.45 to give Hull back their two goal advantage.

Both teams only managed six shots on goal in the third period and it was the home team that got the only marker as Dominic Osman at 49.18 scored with a shorthanded goal.

Nottingham Panthers 8 Coventry Blaze 3

Nottingham certainly have the look of league champions. After a goalless first period and then going two behind in the second, they then went on to hit eight, with only a solitary marker from Coventry squashed in between, as they completely took control of the game, with David Clarke netting himself a hat trick..

After the first period ended goalless, no one was to know what was in store. The visitors went in front with a strike from Dustin Cameron at 22.37. They doubled their lead as Greg Leeb netted at 30.16. Matthew Myers pulled one back for the league leaders at 34.25 and then two goals in 69 seconds turned the game around as David Clarke restored equality at 38.26 and then ex-Blaze man Jonathan Weaver put them in front at 39.35.

The goals just kept coming in the third period, Clarke got his second at 43.30 and then the Blaze got their third and last goal at 48.45 from Mike Egner. They had little time to celebrate this goal as Bruce Graham got Panthers fifth 11 seconds later. They then went on to add another two 18 seconds apart, the first of these came at 50.01 from Matt Francis and then Pat Galivan made it 7-3 at 50.19. At 56.36 David Clarke netted his hat trick as he completed the scoring.

Sheffield Steelers 5 Cardiff Devils 4

Sheffield are doing their best to hang onto Belfast and Nottingham in the quest for this year’s league title. Having lost twice to Cardiff at home already this season they could ill afford to lose this one. It may have only been a one goal game but they were always in control.

The hosts opened the scoring with a strike from Simon Ferguson on the 11th minute mark. Devils got back on level terms with a shorthanded goal from Mac Faulkner at 15.46. With the period drawing to a close Steelers went on the powerplay and Drew Fata netted at 18.02 to give them a 2-1 lead.

The visitors were back on level terms with a goal from Josh Bruce at 21.41. But then they gave up two goals in 43 seconds to fall two behind. Ashley Tait got the first of these at 32.36 and then Fata with his second of the game at 33.19 gave the home side a two goal lead at the end of the second period.

It became a one goal game as Phil Hill found the net at 53.21. With the Devils on the powerplay they pulled goaltender Whitley only to see ex-player Tylor Michel find the empty net to score a shorthanded goal at 58.51. The visitors got a late powerplay opportunity and they made this count as Faulkner got his second of the game at 59.46. But it was no more than a late consolation.

Sunday 26 January

Cardiff Devils 2 Nottingham Panthers 4

League leaders Panthers overcame a stern test in Wales, giving up a two-goal lead inside the last ten minutes of the match before themselves scoring twice in the final minute and claim two more vital points.

As usual in the tight confines of the Big Blue Tent it was a fast start by both sides but despite some 23 shots being fired on the respective nets both goaltenders Chris Whitley of Devils and Craig Kowalski of Panthers were in fine form between the pipes and the opening period ended blank.

A powerplay opportunity early in the second session saw the visitors take the lead with Bruce Graham on target at 23.01. Devils actually had more of the play and the chances in the period but all their efforts continued to show no reward.

When Pat Galivan fired Panthers 2-0 ahead at 42.18 it looked a long road back for the Welsh side but they kept battling away and were finally rewarded when ace sniper Mac Faulkner got them on the board at 51.41. Just under two minutes later and the hosts were given a great chance to continue their momentum when Jason Beckett of Panthers was ejected on a 5 plus game for checking to the head and within 26 seconds the game was tied as skipper Stuart Macrae scored on the powerplay for Devils.

Unfortunately for the home side they then ran into penalty troubles of their own and at 59.02 it was David Ling who fired in what turned out to be the game winning goal for Panthers on the powerplay. The insurance came from Robert Lachowicz with just 3 seconds of regulation remaining but it was another vital win for title chasing Panthers in the end.

Dundee Stars 2 Braehead Clan 4

This huge Gardiner Conference game saw Clan extend their unbeaten run under new coach Paul Gardner to four games, now going three points clear of their hosts tonight, with Stars still having three games in hand.

The visitor’s hero was the unlikely figure of defenceman Davide Nicoletti with the blueliner firing in a hat trick to set his side on their way to victory.

An end to end opening but the early first goal came the way of the home side when ex Clan forward Mike Wirll fired home at 5.21. The visitors were always looking dangerous on the break and they levelled the game when Nicoletti scored his first at 15.26 to see the sides go in level after the opening period.

Stars regained the lead at 27.34 when Wirll scored his second of the game but Nicoletti was not to be outdone and on the powerplay he fired in at 36.47 to ensure the sides could not be split after two periods.

Both sides had their chances in the third but it was the visitors who were finding more energy and at 48.49 it was Nicoletti with a straight hat trick on the powerplay who edged Paul Gardner’s side ahead for the first time, with this counter turning out o be the game winning goal.

Stars gambled late on by removing goaltender Nic Riopel for the extra skater but almost immediately this backfired and Robert Farmer found the empty net for Clan’s fourth and insurance goal to ensure that this vital game went their way.

Edinburgh Capitals 2 Sheffield Steelers 3 (After Overtime)

Steelers gained the extra point to keep their title challenge alive with a Tylor Michel strike in overtime after Capitals had earned themselves a point with a goal 16 seconds from the end of regulation.

Steelers kept the home side to a minimum of real chances in the opening period and they themselves scored the only goal when Simon Ferguson was on hand to tuck the puck home on the powerplay at 8.39.

Capitals are always a dangerous side especially at home and at 23.28 Curtis Leinweber tied the game with the only goal of a tight second period.

Both sides went for it in the third session but defences were on top that was until at 53.42 Jason Hewitt edged Steelers ahead for a second time. The visitors looked set to hold on but then just after Capitals pulled goaltender Tomas Hiadlovsky for the extra skater the game was tied as Brent Patry set Murrayfield alight, firing in with 16 seconds remaining.

That took the game into overtime and it was Steelers who grabbed the crucial extra point when Michel was on hand to fire past Hiadlovsky at 63.02 to give Ryan Finnerty’s men the vital win.

Fife Flyers 5 Hull Stingrays 1

Another big Gardiner Conference match up with Flyers moving above Stingrays in the standings after an impressive display, gaining instant revenge after Stingrays took the points in Hull the previous night.

The visitors had much the better of the opening period but failed to go into the first period break ahead. Dominic Osman did fire them ahead after 12.42 but Flyers were back on terms at 15.13 when player/coach Todd Dutiaume was on target for the home side.

Flyers took control with a late double strike in the second session, a period they dominated and fired 22 shots on Ben Bowns in the Stingrays cage with only six in reply. Derek Keller edged them ahead at 34.44 and then at 37.32 on the powerplay Jason Pitton made it 3-1 Flyers.

Stingrays could not find the spark to recover in the third period and Flyers added two more goals to go nap and claim a resounding victory. Bobby Chaumont grabbed the first at 53.19 and then after Stingrays lost Kurtis Dulle to a five plus game for checking to the head, the scoring was rounded off by Kris Hogg on a five on three powerplay with just one second remaining.