Let’s find out who’s hot and who’s not in this week’s Power Rankings. How did your team do this weekend?
1. Belfast Giants (NON-MOVER) – No domestic games for the Giants this weekend, but would have pleased to see both Fife and Nottingham both drop points. Flyers may have inched closer, but Giants remain relatively untroubled at the top of the table for now. And well done on reaching the Continental Cup Final group.
2. Cardiff Devils (UP from 4) – We all knew their recent dip in form would be a blip and they got back to winning ways with victories over Nottingham Panthers and Dundee Stars, to bring them to within five points of the Giants at the top. Is this the start of their charge? You wouldn’t bet against it.
3. Fife Flyers (DOWN from 2) – Two games and only one point to show from their weekend as the Flyers stuttered in their bid to catch Belfast at the top. The point in Nottingham was an impressive one and penalty shots denied them in the end. A frustrating weekend in all for the Kirkcaldy side.
4. Sheffield Steelers (UP from 5) – For the Steelers fans, two great victories to enjoy in Scotland, coming from four down in Glasgow to clinch an overtime win then a relatively comfortable 6-2 success at Fife, it’s been one to really enjoy for them as Tom Barrasso continues to lead them round the corner.
5. Guildford Flames (DOWN from 3) – Seems a bit harsh for Guildford to drop two places, but it was a mixed weekend over Manchester Storm, starting by losing a two-goal lead at the Storm Shelter. Sunday’s bounceback was impressive, but Paul Dixon may rue how his team lost their lead on Saturday.
6. Nottingham Panthers (UP from 8) – Defeat to Cardiff on Saturday added further frustrations, but showed great character to overcome a stern test from Fife Flyers in Sunday’s home game, winning on penalty shots. If they can just get that consistency, they could be up there.
7. Glasgow Clan (DOWN from 6) – Two losses out of three – one heavy and one after losing a four-goal lead – were not good from the Clan point of view. Bounced back with the win over Milton Keynes Lightning, but they’re another team who need consistency and can’t quite get it.
8. Coventry Blaze (DOWN from 8) – Another frustrating weekend for the Blaze, who won one game and lost one against the two teams at the bottom of the table. Again, a side who you can see the best of and at times, the worst of on short periods.
9. Manchester Storm (NON-MOVER) – Great character win for the Storm on Saturday, coming from two behind to clinch victory over a team like Guildford Flames, who have done well this season. Sunday’s reverse fixture at the Spectrum was one to forget as Storm’s form fluctuates.
10. Milton Keynes Lightning (UP from 11) – What a week for Lightning! Losing their coach on Wednesday was quickly followed by a thumping 6-1 over Glasgow Clan. They lost in Scotland on Saturday but recovered with a good 4-1 home win over Coventry. Two out of three (this week) ain’t bad.
11. Dundee Stars (DOWN from 11) – Signs of improvement for Pacha, but the fact remains the Stars are at the foot of the table for a reason. Positives can be taken, particularly in Sunday’s game against Cardiff, but their struggles remain.
