Elite League round-up February 11

Cardiff Devils 5 Edinburgh Capitals 2

These two teams have not had the best of fortune lately, with Cardiff having lost their last three games whilst Edinburgh had lost their last seven.

The home team opened the scoring as Phil Hill netted at 12.27. However, the visitors restored equality just over two minutes later as Rene Jarolin was on target at 14.52.

The hosts regained the lead with a strike from Stuart MacRae at 25.44, they made it a two-goal spread as MacRae got his second of the game on the powerplay at 31.25. The Capitals were not there to make up the numbers and Jarolin with his second goal at 34.23 also on the powerplay made it a one-goal game going into the third period.

Two goals without reply from the Devils in the third period ended the game as a contest. The hosts fourth goal came courtesy of Jeff Pierce at 50.21 and then Phil Hill got his second of the game at 54.57 to complete the scoring.

Dundee Stars 3 Hull Stingrays 4

Having lost their last two games, Hull got a much needed win to boost their play-off hopes. They had been behind three times in the game but two goals in 49 seconds turned a defeat into a win.

The hosts were first to show as Euan Forsyth put them in front at 6.21. The visitors got back on level terms with a strike from Dominic Osman at 15.51.

Dundee regained the lead with a goal from Dan McGoff at 27.11. However, for a second time they failed to hold onto it as Derek Campbell tied it up once again 45 seconds later.

A J MacLean put the home side in front for a third time at 47.49. Once again, the visitors struck back as Osman got his second of the game at 53.11 and then Jason Silverthorn with a shorthanded goal got the game winner at 54.00.

Fife Flyers 2 Braehead Clan 7

The last time these two teams met at Kirkcaldy 11 days ago, the visitors came away with the points with a penalty shootout win. This time however the points were heading west, after they hit three without reply in the second period to take a four-goal lead.

Only the one marker in the opening session and it was Clan player/coach Drew Bannister who led by example as he put his team in front with a powerplay goal at 7.38.

Three goals in the opening 11 minutes of the second period saw the Clan go four in front. The first of these came at 22.40 from the stick of Brock McPherson.

Then at 26.15 the league’s top point’s scorer Jade Galbraith scored on the powerplay.

The fourth goal came at 30.41 as Ryan Campbell found the back of the net.

The home side pulled one back in the final minute with a 5 on 3 powerplay goal scored by Toms Hartmanis at 19.08.

The Clan did not take their foot of the pedal in the third period, Galbraith got his second goal of the game at 41.18. Adam Walker got a sixth against his hometown team at 49.18. Fife got a late consolation from Tim Maxwell at 50.48. However, it eas the visitors who wrapped up the scoring as Jordan Krestanovich scored at 53.10.

Nottingham Panthers 3 Belfast Giants 4

(After Penalty Shootout)

A huge weekend for both Nottingham and Belfast, as they play one another twice over the weekend. Both teams are still very much in the mix along with Sheffield for this year’s league title.

The visitors got off to the perfect start as Jon Pelle put them in front with 87 seconds on the clock. They doubled their lead with a powerplay goal from Paul Deniset at 9.18. The Panthers pulled one back just before the end of the period as Matt Francis found the net at18.37.

Having got themselves back into the game the Panthers started the second period on the powerplay. However, they were dealt a real body blow as Robert Dowd scored shorthanded 43 seconds into the period to restore the Giants two-goal lead.

The score line remained like this until the final minute of the period when Francis netted his second of the game at 19.08 to get the Panthers to within one once again.

In a tense third period the only goal came the way of the home team as David Beauregard on the powerplay netted at 51.48. With the teams level the game went into overtime, that failed to find a winner and penalty shots would decide the outcome.

Craig Peacock netted with the first for Belfast and with all the rest being missed that strike from Peacock turned out to be the game winner.

Sheffield Steelers 3 Coventry Blaze 2

Having failed to beat Sheffield in their last 13 attempts Coventry went into this game hoping for a win to get that particular monkey off their back. There was nothing to separate the team until the host got the game winner with the only goal in the third period.

The home side got off to the perfect start as Chad Huttel fired them in front at 1.43.The visitors got back on level terms at 12.18 with a goal from Shea Guthrie. No further scoring saw the teams go in all square after the first period.

With the second period, looking as though it was going to end goalless the teams traded powerplay goals. Neil Clark scored for Sheffield at 17.39 and 44 seconds later Guthrie with his second of the game made the game level for the second time.

Only the one goal in the third period and what a vital goal it was for the home team as Mike Ramsay found the net at 53.19 to give the Steelers both points.