Injury News
- "Every Sister's Favourite Player" Robert Dowd is expected to be out for at least a few weeks after the bad hit from Tuukka Makela on Sunday left him with concussion. We wish Dowdy all the best.
- The status of Jeff Legue is up in the air, after he reportedly left the NIC with an injury. However, the club is being particularly quiet with information on him, and hopefully that means he will be fit for the weekend. They may release some information after this has been published.
- No news on Dustin Kohn, who has missed the last three games through injury. He only iced 19 times for his team due to injury last year, which may be an indication of how he ended up in the Elite League.
- Stefan Meyer was reportedly close to a comeback last weekend, so should be in contention to start this weekend, after missing the last four games. However, a report in today's Star suggests that he may still be absent, so we shall see.
- Max Lacroix and Geoff Woolhouse remain on the long term injured list.
Saturday 23rd - Sheffield Steelers vs Dundee Stars (vs Stars this season - 1-1-0)
Saturday sees the Steelers take to Ice Sheffield to entertain Dundee. A lot of talk has gone on this year about the Steelers home form, and how much of a Jekyll and Hyde side they are. I would say, this week, it is not a case of which Steelers team turns up, but how well this man plays.
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| Photo Courtesy of DundeeStars.com |
The good work done at the Arena feels like it was undone again in the NIC, and the boys will have to pick themselves back up off the floor. Can they do it? I wouldn't like to put any money on it either way. Hopefully, if both Meyer and Kohn return, it will offset the loss of Dowd (and potentially Legue), but again its tough to predict whether the Steelers will show up. I'll be optimistic.
Liam's Prediction: Sheffield Steelers 2 -1 Dundee Stars
Sunday 24th - Cardiff Devils vs Sheffield Steelers (vs Devils this season - 2-1-0)
A trip to our delightful former owner, and the wonderful residents of the Welsh capital beckons on Sunday, as the Steelers visit Cardiff for the first time since Gerad Adams was given a made up job and Brent Pope took over coaching duties. The Devils have gone on a four game losing streak since beating Belfast in the Odyssey at the start of the month, but it would be typical Sheffield hospitality if we gave them the opportunity to snap the streak - they play Hull on Saturday night having already lost to them a fortnight ago.
We do seem to play better on the road, and the Devils just have not clicked at all this year - a 4-3 win at the Motorpoint being one of the high points of their campaign. For once, and I am likely to be proved wrong here, I cannot see anything but a 2 point game for us.
Liam's Prediction: Cardiff Devils 1 - 3 Sheffield Steelers
I realise that means I'm predicting a four point weekend, but have some faith. Its the hope I can't stand...
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the Elite League...
History will be made on Saturday as Premier Sports, led by the hockey sage that is Aaron Murphy, take their cameras into the Skydome Arena as the Coventry Blaze host the Belfast Giants to the first of a double-header to be held at the Skydome over the weekend. If you're not going to a game, I implore you to find yourself in front of somewhere viewing this, as not only is the Elite League on TV again a big deal, but it has the potential to get a bit tasty. As for results, I can see both teams sharing the spoils, potentially with 3 points each, with two tight games that could both end up going to overtime. I see Coventry 3-2 on Saturday, and Belfast 2-1 on Sunday.
The Braehead Clan and the Fife Flyers split the weekend, with Saturday's game being held in Glasgow, and the return on Sunday in Kirkcaldy. I am an admirer of the Flyers, but Ryan Finnerty's side have something special going on at the moment, and I think they'll be too strong for the Flyers. Lets go Clan 4-1 on Saturday, and Clan 2-1 on Sunday.
I expect the Hull Stingrays to be too strong for the Cardiff Devils on home ice, taking that one 3-1, before they travel north to visit the Edinburgh Capitals on Sunday. The Caps will have been buoyed by recent performances in defeating both the Panthers and the Giants, and I expect them to carry this on in Murrayfield. 3-1 to the Caps.
No Nottingham Panthers in Elite League action this weekend, as they are on their way to Italy to continue their way in the Continental Cup. I wish them every success, and hope it stretches their roster as far as possible.
But no, really, good luck.
Enjoy the weekend.
Liam
@IAmMcCausland
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