It certainly is The Final Countdown as Joey Tempest and his Swedish band-mates so prophetically told us back in 1986. Ironically the same year that our rivals for the Monteith Bowl, Cardiff Devils, were formed.
The final weekend of the regular season is upon us, and it's a shootout between the Singapore Slinger (Paul Thompson) and the Vancouver Vigilante (Andrew Lord) to see who comes out on top. A place in next season's Champions Hockey League (yes, the EIHL will have only a single representative in 2017) and the honour of being crowned EIHL Champion 2015-16 awaits..
Going into Wednesday's night game, Steelers still led by a two point margin but Cardiff use their match in hand to squeak ahead on the regulation wins rule? Granted Devils had taken maximum points from their opponents, Derrick Walser's Belfast Giants, over the weekend - surely they would do the same in the SSE Arena? Except nobody cared to tell the Giants that. David Rutherford gave the homesters a first period lead which was rubbed out early in the second by Joey Martin. Then Giants bounced back with further goals from top scorer Mike Radja and former Steeler Mike Forney (Agent Forney as he was getting dubbed on social media). Defenceman Mike Wilson extended it to 4-1 with just a shade over 6 minutes to go, and then Lord gambled.
With his team on the powerplay and just over 5 minutes left, Lord sacrificed Ben Bowns for a 6 on 4 PP, and it looked like it was a good idea when Martin notched his second of the night at 55:35 to reduce it to a 4-2 hockey game. Matt Nickerson then picked up a roughing minor with 2:29 left, and Lord made the same gamble. This time it failed, as former NHLer Jim Vandermeer picked up talismanic skipper Adam Keefe and he found the empty net. 5-2 Giants, and Cardiff's goose was cooked that night. Steelers fans rejoiced naturally, advantage heading the way from South Wales to South Yorkshire perchance?
Saturday could see the title decided, but to be honest I very much doubt this will be the case. Cardiff visit Manchester in the Storm Shelter at Altrincham, and that's a game I can't seem them slipping up in. Storm have nothing to play for, their post-season bid has fizzled out so this looks a certain road win for Lord's men but has Omar Pacha got a surprise in store for the last home game this season? As I said, I doubt it. Steelers on the other hand, entertain Nottingham - but at the House Of Steel - for the second time in seven days. Panthers have the ability to scud the Steelers but spurred on by a massive crowd which is expected to top 8,000: can Steelers take a massive step over the finish line? I believe they can, although it might go beyond 60. As long as it is not a penalty shoot out...
Fast forward 24 hours, and the final games of the season. Cardiff entertain Nottingham in Ice Arena Wales, and depending on results elsewhere: the Panthers have their sights on finishing as high as possible. Corey Neilson could spring a shock here, and this will be either a tough and close encounter, or Cardiff will ruin riot if Neilson's men have nothing special to play for. It's an interesting one to try and call. As is Steelers trip to the Fife Ice Arena in Kirkcaldy. "The Auld Barn" can be an intimidating place to play in, and probably not the kind of arena you are wanting to win a championship in. Fife have improved markedly, especially at home, as the season progressed and will be a tough test for Thompson's men. Depending on how Saturday goes, Thompson's tactics will need to be spot on in Kirkcaldy.
So who to win? I'm predicting Cardiff to win both theirs, and in regulation. Steelers though: I'm thinking they will pick one point against the Panthers but clinch the league with a close run affair in Fife thereby becoming the first team to retain "Monty" since 2008 when Coventry recorded back-to-back titles: ironically under Paul Thompson. What do you think?
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