It’s an earlier one for both Sheffield Steelers and Manchester Storm as they look forward to a mid-afternoon slot, which means they’ll be home or the hotel for tea.
Previous games have been entertaining between the two, but recent defeats gives the game an extra dimension as both look to get back on track with a win.
This gives no indication of how that could turn out, but we had fun putting it together anyway.
406
This game between Sheffield Steelers and Manchester Storm is the first Elite League competition game to have a 4pm face off since the Challenge Cup Final 2020 in Cardiff between Cardiff Devils and Sheffield Steelers, 406 days ago.
19
The previous two meetings between Steelers and Storm have saw a whopping 19 goals, which could be a good omen for an entertaining game
34
Curtis Warburton’s introduction to the Elite Series means Sheffield Steelers are the only team to have utilised three goalies in the competition so far. The 34 is Warburton’s jersey number.
3
Storm have lost three in a row coming into this one and have scored at least three goals in each of those games
Number of points picked by Zach Sullivan for Manchester Storm against Sheffield Steelers in the 2019/20 season, scoring two and one. This was half of his full season tally of six points.
Could we be in for another goal-laden meeting between Steelers and Storm? (PHOTO: Mark Ferriss)
5
Steelers have won five of their last six ‘home’ games, with Manchester handing them that defeat in their first meeting of the Elite Series two weeks ago
10
Number of years Ryan Finnerty has been a head coach, with Sheffield Steelers giving him his first opportunity before four years with Braehead Clan and now four years with Manchester Storm
6
Number of assists by Sheffield Steelers’ Kevin Schulze, the most number of assists by any player without scoring a goal so far in the tournament
7
Sheffield’s Tanner Eberle has picked up at least a point in all of their games so far in this competition. He’s the second top scorer overall with 13 points (6+7) so far.
4
Three players have four points each from the previous two games in this particular series so far. Robert Dowd (3+1) and Josef Mikyska (0+4) for Steelers along with Manchester’s Ciaran Long (2+2)
