We’ll give you the final word of the weekend by revealing what we learned after another weird and wonderful weekend of action.
1. Fife Flyers at a crossroads
It’s been an altogether miserable month for Fife, who have picked up only two wins from nine in October including a heavy home double figures loss to Sheffield Steelers and are on the back of another weekend with no points.
The natives are restless and there has been a hint from Flyers coach Todd Dutiaume he may be ready to wield the axe. The question is will he? Todd will give the players every chance possible to turn things around as we’ve seen in the past, but the vibe from Kirkcaldy is that things can’t go on.
Belfast visit Fife in Wednesday’s televised clash then tough games with Cardiff and Glasgow follow so are the players effectively playing for their futures? They have to show it certainly.
It’s three and zero for Dundee Stars against Glasgow Clan this season (PHOTO: Derek Black)
2. Dundee Stars seem to have Clan’s number
Three games between them and now three wins for Dundee Stars over their Scottish rivals after a 3-2 success on Tayside in Saturday’s latest meeting between them.
The scoreline certainly wasn’t as one-sided as the previous two meetings between them, but the speed of the Stars players was thorn in the Clan’s side, while Alex Leclerc proved his worth again between the Dundee pipes.
With both sides set to play each other again on Saturday, can Glasgow break the run the Stars are on against them, or can they extend it to four? An interesting game certainly awaits from that standpoint.
Guildford are in the knockout stages of the Challenge Cup (PHOTO: John Uwins)
3. Guildford are going about their business again
The Flames reached the Challenge Cup Final and the last four of the play-offs, showing themselves to be the real deal in their second season in the Elite League.
Now in their third campaign at this level, they’re very much going about their business in an undernoted fashion after sealing a six-point week, beating Coventry Blaze and Cardiff Devils twice to reach the last eight of the Challenge Cup.
Overall, their form stands at six wins from their last seven and they take on Glasgow Clan at home, a team who has never won at the Spectrum and two meetings with Sheffield Steelers at the weekend so another six points would lift them into the higher echelons of the table. Watch this space.
It’s not been a good start to the NIHL National League campaign for MK Lighting and their coach, Lewis Clifford (PHOTO: Tony Sargent)
4. Milton Keynes Lightning back in a bad place
Their off-ice turmoil with questionable owners may be a thing of the past, but on the ice, MK Lightning have still to find their feet at the NIHL National League.
Only two wins from 11 games leaves them at the wrong end of the table, courtesy of wins over Leeds Chiefs and Raiders earlier in the campaign as they struggle to find any kind of form.
They were seen as one of the favourites at the start of the season, but that hasn’t been lived up to and fans will hope for some wins to get them back on track soon. The last thing they want is another lowly league finish.
Belfast finally won on the road this weekend, taking them to three in a row (PHOTO: Mark Ferriss)
5. Belfast Giants are back…we think
After six straight losses, including two in the CHL and no wins on the road, Giants finally tasted an away win, albeit on penalty shots on Saturday at Manchester Storm.
That takes them to three straight wins now and fans will be hopefully their inconsistent form earlier will be over and they can go on a run of games notching up with the victories and charging up the table.
We’ve seen previous teams, who have taken part in the CHL, take until November to get back on domestic track and this may be the case for Belfast, who have to go Fife on Wednesday then a double header with Coventry Blaze. That three could be six by this time next week.
