Welcome back everyone to this week's Elite Report, your weekly review of all things Elite League. We are now a full three weeks into the season and already some things are becoming clear at this early stage in the season. Of course we will look at each one of the ten member clubs.
One can't start the weekly review without a quick personal view on the events of last Friday night in the SSE Arena, Belfast. When I first heard about what had happened there - I was like what the heck? But credit must go to Dean Smith for his quick and heartfelt apology on social media as soon as the error was becoming talk of the whole league. Deano knew he messed up, and it takes some guts to admit that especially as a IIHF standard referee which he now is. No brushing it under the proverbial carpet, hands up and apologies there and then. Well done with that Dean, and also a big pat on the backs to the Giants organisation who made a smart move in reducing the walk up prices for those who attended Friday and wanted to go Saturday too. Applause to all and sundry.
Giants had further reason to smile with Krys Beech's winner in that overtime, just ten seconds left of it though. Must say that the 190 game NHLer is getting a bit handy with these. There was no such mistake Saturday in the second match as the Northern Irish team skated away with a 5-2 win in regulation. Mike Forney is lighting the lamp with regularity, 11 points in just 6 games so far and proving so far he is not a single season wonder.
I do think Riley Emmerson will still take some positives from both games, the Caps were certainly not outclassed in both games. Then it lose their third game of what must have been an exhausting mini schedule so early in the season; in overtime; I reckon that his new look Edinburgh roster are slowly coming to terms with what Riley expects from them. They're heading in the right direction. There is no reason for the Caps to worry at all, I fully expect them to find the winning feeling shortly.
Despite playing just a single game that weekend, Steelers still are looking quite impressive. Another shut out of a lacklustre Blaze, and their record from their last three games now reads at 17 goals scored and just a single goal conceded. The players are definitely buying in what Paul Thompson demands at the moment, and that must be pleasing. Considering that the 5-0 win was achieved without last season's EIHL MVP Mathieu Roy not getting a point, Thompson has to be delighted that his team is contributing everywhere and not relying on one single player.
Coventry themselves are struggling for consistency. They looked like a team devoid of all ideas on Saturday, and must be counting their lucky stars that Steelers didn't go and run the score up. The sight of Brian Stewart and his captain Ashley Tait almost losing the plot with each other must have worried Chuck Weber considerably. Defensively I'm not convinced by them. Yet Sunday's home 1-0 win over Nottingham has at least stopped the bleeding for a while.
Nottingham themselves are still a team trying to find consistency of their own. Whilst they did eventually win 7-2 at home to Manchester, the fact it took them until late in the final period to finally put the game out of the Storm's reach has to be a concern for Corey Neilson. With both Geoff Waugh and recent recruit Andi Wiedergut both on the sidelines, Panthers blueline core is being stretched to the limit. It might be that they have ride the crisis and hope that they don't pick any more injuries which could really force Neilson's hand into finding replacements.
Both Cardiff and Fife enjoyed four point weekends which for any team is always good. Cardiff were involved in a couple of high scoring games which shows that they have the firepower to score at will but the defence isn't as watertight. If this can be tweaked slightly then I am sure Andrew Lord's team will live up their pre-season billing as the team most have as the dark horses for the title. Fife will be much happier after a maximum haul. With both Patrick Cullen and Jeff Lee proving a good offensive threat, Todd Dutiaume and Danny Stewart will be collectively quite content.
Whilst the results didn't go their way, Manchester are still proving no pushover. For a team that was assembled quicker than a Rubik's Cube, they have really given everyone they have played a game. As touched on early, it took Nottingham until the final three minutes of Saturday's game to beyond the game beyond Omar Pacha's hard working side. Then to lose so heartbreakingly 8-6 to the Devils after leading 6-4 must have really felt like a kick in the nuts. A first win of the season really can't be that far away.
Dundee's topsy turvy form continues. Beaten 5-2 in Fife Saturday night and then winning 2-1 against the Clan is certainly a case of experiencing very contrasting emotions. MLF must be wondering what will happen next. However after the trials and tribulations of last season's annus horrilbus, Stars have to be quite content with life. To finish with Clan, I don't think Ryan Finnerty is ready to press a panic button yet. Losing a nine goal thriller in overtime to Cardiff isn't a bad result but losing to Dundee might have given them a thought that the other Scottish teams aren't gonna roll over this season as easy as last.
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