ELITE LEAGUE ICE HOCKEY:

A round up of games in the Elite Ice Hockey League on Saturday March 24.

Belfast Giants 4 Nottingham Panthers 3 (OT)

Belfast ended their league campaign with this overtime win against Nottingham and at the same time created a new club record of 17 straight league wins. They also won the league with 95 points the most by any club since the Elite League started.

After a goalless first period, the home side opened the scoring with a goal from Robert Dowd at 27.46. The visitors got back on level terms with a strike from Robert Lachowich at 34.28. With 15 seconds of the second period remaining Panthers player/coach Corey Neilson gave his side the advantage.

Two goals in two minutes turned the game once again as the hosts went from one down to one in front, as Adam Keefe netted at 45.31 and then Paul Deniset was on the mark at 47.03. However, the Panthers got back on level terms with a strike from Matthew Myers at 53.06.

With no further scoring, the game went into overtime and at 62.39 Craig Peacock on the powerplay fired home the game winner to give the Giants the win.

Braehead Clan 6 Hull Stingrays 1

For the Clan to finish fifth in the league they had to win this one and hope things went for them in Coventry. As it turned out Clan did their part with the win, however so did Coventry as they beat Cardiff so it would be a sixth place finish for the home side.

The first period ended goalless despite numerous efforts by both teams, however both goaltenders were coming up with big stops to keep their net intact.

The hosts finally got the breakthrough 86 seconds into the second period as Brock McPherson fired home. A second goal of the game from McPherson doubled the homes sides lead at 24.33 this was how it remained after forty minutes.

The visitors started the third period with a 5 on 3 powerplay and within 35 seconds, they had pulled a goal back as Jason Silverthorn netted. Two goals from the Clan 26 seconds apart from Jim Jorgenson at 26.23 and Jordan Krestanovich 26.49 took the wind out of the Stingrays sail as the hosts opened up a three-goal lead.

Two further strikes from the home team at 50.44 from Ryan Campbell and the Matt Haywood on the powerplay at 57.42 end a great night for the Clan and their fans.

Coventry Blaze 6 Cardiff Devils 4

A win by Coventry would have been enough for them to secure a fifth place finish. They got the win in the end but had to come back from a two-goal deficit after the first period as thy hit five without reply over the second and third period to registrar the win.

The hosts got off to the best possible start as Jerramie Domish with his first goal of the season had them in front with 82 seconds on the clock. This could have been doubled at 3.04 when the Blaze were awarded a penalty shot. However, Robert Farmer failed to convert.

This gave the visitors the confidence they were looking for and they got back on level terms with a strike from Chris Frank at 3.48 and then a double from Ben Davies at 7.33 and 9.50 increased the Devils lead to two.

The Blaze reduced the deficit with a powerplay goal from Matic Kralj at 26.08 and at 30.21 were on level terms as Shea Guthrie scored.

Three goals in the first five minutes of the third period gave Blaze full control of the game. The show was on the road as Woo Sang Park netted at 41.42 and then Mike McLean on the powerplay at 44.23 this was followed by a strike from Robert Farmer at 44.49 to give the Blaze a three-goal lead.

Devils did get another goal but it was no more than a late consolation as Mark Richardson found the net at 56.14.

Fife Flyers 1 Dundee Stars 2 (OT)

Dundee went into this game knowing a win would guarantee them a play-off spot.

However, they had to rely on an overtime winner to make sure of the win.

The visitor had the better of the opening two period but despite their advantage they could not find the opener and after forty minute of play the game was still to see its first goal.

As like the first two periods, the Stars had the better of the third and were on the back foot as the hosts opened the scoring with a strike from Frantisek Bakrlik at 50.53. The visitors fought back and at 53.31 Jeff Hutchins restored equality.

With no further scoring the game went into overtime and at 62.48 Chris Zarb netted the game winner to secure his team’s play-off spot.

Sheffield Steelers 13 Edinburgh Capitals 2

Edinburgh had no answer to a Sheffield team that was on fire throughout the game. Jeff League had a hand in eight of the goals as he amassed 3+5, Mike Ramsay also netted himself a hat trick whilst Luke Fulghum recorded a five point haul (2+3) as did Jonathan Phillips (1+4).

Sheffield went in front with a goal from Jonathan Phillips at 4.44 and then Luke Fulghum doubled the home sides advantage with a strike at 8.04.Steelers added a third at 16.36 as Mike Ramsay netted, then 19 seconds later Jeff Legue gave the home side a four-goal lead.

The home side went nap 48 seconds into the second period as Jeff League netted his second of the game. Colt King added more misery onto the Capitals with a powerplay goal at 31.02. League then completed his hat trick at 34.25 before Ramsay with his second of the game at 37.17 made it a second consecutive 4 nil period for the hosts.

Any chance Geoff Woolhouse had of posting a shutout disappeared 14 seconds into the third period as Bari McKenzie got the visitors on the board. The goals were still flowing for the Steelers as Ron Sarich netted at 44.06 and then 46 second later Tom Squire was on the score sheet.

Ten minutes later Fulghum with his second added goal number eleven, Mike Ramsay then completed his hat trick 62 seconds later. Player/coach Ryan Finnerty made it a lucky thirteen with a powerplay goal at 58.01. The Capitals did have the final say as Sean Menton ended a miserable night with their second goal at 58.41