It’s time to have a look and see who’s on the ball or off the reservation after the week just past and as you can see, Fife’s win has got them back on track, while Coventry frustrated again. It’s the BIH Power Rankings.
1. Belfast Giants (NON-MOVER) – Comfortably through in the Challenge Cup, but a stutter in Glasgow on Saturday before a good road win in Manchester. Giants are still the team to beat at this moment in time.
2. Cardiff Devils (NON-MOVER) – After the manner of how they were eliminated from the Challenge Cup, Devils recovered with a good away win at Manchester to keep them behind Belfast. It’s not all going to plan, but Cardiff are finely poised to move if there are any further slip-ups.
3. Fife Flyers (UP from 5) – Only the one game for the Flyers, but the result was good enough to get them back on track in these standings, now that they’ve won three of their last four. Some tests lie ahead that could go on to define their season, but they’re in a good place right now.
4. Nottingham Panthers (DOWN from 3) – An overtime loss to Dundee Stars was not the start to the weekend Panthers wanted, but it was a point. However, Sunday’s home loss to Guildford was really disappointing and after some good form recently, they’ve been set back again.
5. Sheffield Steelers (DOWN from 4) – Old concerns came back as the Steelers were shut out on their Teddy Toss night, not least thanks to THAT save from Miroslav Kopriva. All in, a disappointing night and all eyes now on a Challenge Cup semi final spot.
6. Dundee Stars (NON-MOVER) – Four points from six in a tricky three-game trip to England, winning in Nottingham and Coventry, but shut out by Milton Keynes Lightning in a surprise scoreline. The form continues for the Stars, but for how long?
7. Glasgow Clan (UP from 8) – Two phenomenal performances at Cardiff to knock them out of the Challenge Cup then a huge two points over Belfast Giants to seal arguably Clan’s best weekend of the season so far. Hopefully this could be the weekend that changes things for them.
8. Guildford Flames (DOWN from 7) – A great win at Nottingham Panthers, thanks to Kruise Reddick having one of those nights ended the weekend well, but losing in Fife on Saturday was one they could have done without. They lose a place largely because of how well Clan did.
9. Milton Keynes Lightning (UP from 10) – Still struggling to get themselves on a proper run of form, but Saturday’s 3-0 home win over Dundee Stars was a good one to get. Still signs of life, but still adrift at the bottom of the table.
10. Coventry Blaze (UP from 11) – That frustrating Coventry team came back with an excellent shutout road win at Sheffield Steelers followed up by a 5-2 home loss to Dundee Stars. When is it going to click for Danny Stewart and his team?
11. Manchester Storm (DOWN from 9) – Seems a bit harsh to put Storm bottom when you consider they played the top two this weekend, but with Coventry and MK winning and picking up points, it left Manchester in that position. Still work to do for Storm, but will bounce back.
