It’s the Power Rankings as we look at the teams firing on all cylinders or firing blanks after another gruelling week of action.
1. Belfast Giants (NON-MOVER) – Seem to be kicking back into form following Wednesday’s loss at Dundee Stars with a good win at Guildford Flames and a gutsy penalty shots success against Cardiff Devils. They fell, but got straight back up again.
2. Cardiff Devils (NON-MOVER) – Two games this week that both went beyond regulation time, securing an overtime win over Guildford, but a loss on penalty shots in Belfast means three points out of four. A decent return, but just keeps them a little shy of Giants at the top of our standings.
3. Nottingham Panthers (NON-MOVER) – Hung on to third despite losing both their games this week, but took them both beyond 60 minutes to at least get something from them. Those points continue the good tally they’ve accumulated recently, but will hope the two losses are a blip.
4. Sheffield Steelers (NON-MOVER) – A bad performance and result in Glasgow prevented them from moving into the top three, although the manner of their comeback and win in Dundee on Sunday deserves huge applause and credit. Not even for them to leapfrog Panthers right enough, but still…
5. Fife Flyers (UP from 6) – A terrific result at home to Coventry Blaze on Saturday suggested the Flyers were starting to get back to their best, even though coach Todd Dutiaume wasn’t getting ahead of himself. However the long trip to Milton Keynes damaged them and they go back to square one.
6. Dundee Stars (UP from 8) – They made it to a record equalling sixth straight win when they defeated Belfast Giants then Milton Keynes Lightning and were a minute away from a clean sweep against Sheffield Steelers only for disaster to strike. Despite that, a fairly good week for Omar and his team.
7. Guildford Flames (DOWN from 5) – Although it’s one point to show for their efforts this week, it’s two losses that now qualifies them for a ‘skid’, where form has taken a dip. It’s four losses in their last five as the results they were picking up last month seems to have dried up. It’ll be temporary though.
8. Glasgow Clan (DOWN from 7) – Clan are becoming one of those teams where they can pick up a terrific win (Sheffield on Wednesday) then not quite follow it up by losing the next game (Manchester on Sunday). There are flashes of good things from Pete Russell’s team, but it’s not happening enough for them.
9. Manchester Storm (UP from 11) – Ryan Finnerty must not have liked being bottom of our standings as they picked up two good league wins over Nottingham Panthers and Glasgow Clan to snap a six-game losing run. Sure, there was the 6-1 loss to the Panthers in the Challenge Cup, but they bounced back well.
10. Milton Keynes Lighting (DOWN from 9) – Their recovery is gradual and haven’t quite reached the heady heights of a run of wins yet, but a loss at Dundee then a home win against Fife is showing they are going in the right direction. However, remain slightly adrift at the bottom of the EIHL standings, which needs to improve
11. Coventry Blaze (DOWN from 10) – It’s been a tough old week for the Skydome side and in a week where they lost three players and reached seven games without victory, thank goodness for an overtime win over Nottingham Panthers to show there’s life in them yet. This week’s placing will be temporary, we’re sure.
