It's a double dose of "The Elite Report" this week. First we get the weekly round-up here and also the monthly review in a separate article. First of all I do apologise to you for the lack of last week's edition, I kinda forgot. I did all the other pieces but simply had one of them moments and forgot the review of week 7 in the EIHL. However, I'll try and pull two weeks into one and hope what you are about to read: makes a bit of sense.
Well one thing can be said over the last two weeks, neither of the ten member clubs stayed unbeaten throughout. Some played four games, some played six and in Coventry's case - they played just twice because they were away on Continental Cup duty last weekend. Must say hard lines to Chuck Weber's men for that, you were so close to making the next stage. Terrific effort and everyone in the Elite League is proud of that.
The best points haul came from the Steelers themselves as they accounted for three wins and one loss in their four game schedule. After a two goal dèbut in that "shock" (well to some it was) loss to Edinburgh, Chris Lawrence further pressed his claims for a longer deal with game winning goals against Panthers (I called it) and Clan. A squeaked win over a plucky Storm side was sandwiched between a loss at Belfast. Lawrence has since been rewarded with a new deal for an additional month whilst Colton Fretter recovers from a hernia.
Picking up five points out of a possible eight were Cardiff and Dundee. Cardiff took three of those points in an excellent couple of encounters in Belfast, and then were victorious in the Big Blue Tent on penalty shots after a feisty ding-dong with Nottingham. Their only loss came last Saturday to this season's surprise packet: Edinburgh. Dundee are still improving under Marc LeFebvre, and despite a four point weekend against Manchester and Fife the other week, they were soundly beaten in Nottingham but an overtime loss to Belfast suggests they are much better this season than last.
Fife only had one game in week seven, which resulted in another loss. However with pressure mounting on the broad shoulders of Todd Dutiuame to start winning games, some even allegedly speculated that his job was on the line. However his players responded in the best way possible, a four point weekend against Manchester and a home shutout of the Clan thanks to a couple of third period goals. Flyers need to continue this winning vein else those question marks will be raised again, and I'm sure Todd is drumming that mantra into those players each day.
Three teams picked up three points in this period; Nottingham, Belfast and Edinburgh. Panthers had a zero point week in week seven caused by regulation losses in their biggest rivals geographically. As mentioned before, it was former Panther Lawrence who inflicted one of those and I bet Mr Moran was spitting blood over it. With David Ling now in the ranks, they comfortably beat Dundee in the NIC before narrowly losing in Cardiff. That suggests they are getting back to basics. Don't ever discount Corey Neilson's men.
Belfast suffered a rare double reverse against the Devils and are really feeling the pinch of another shortened bench, Matt Nickerson being the latest one to be added to the list. Despite One Direction Gate, the healthy ones recorded a stunning 4-1 home win over Sheffield before winning in overtime at Dundee where it is becoming a hard place to win at. Edinburgh are still improving under Riley Emmerson and they seem to be raising their game against the bigger fish which is making this season ever so interesting. They seem to have found a goalscoring gem in Ryan Hayes as well. Hats off to the Caps metaphorically speaking then.
In need of wins are both Braehead and Manchester. Clan's stuttering form has to be of concern for a team that were expected to sweep all before them in the Gardiner Conference. I'm sure though that Ryan Finnerty will react sharpish if this continues to happen, they are too good to be this inconsistent. Storm (prior to last night) had lost three on the spin and are wondering where their next win will come from but a battling performance in Sheffield when they recovered from a 4-0 first period deficit to tie it up with a fantastic second 20 must give Omar Pacha great heart that good times around the corner. Keep at it, success comes to those who wait. Trust me it does.
Coventry were in Continenal Cup last weekend, so now find themselves at the base of the EIHL table with seven points from eight games. However, they had a much needed confidence win against the Panthers before jetting off and maybe that will kickstart their season. This win obviously spurred them on Poland and they were just 10 minutes away from making the next stage. Bad luck indeed, but they did our league proud with their efforts. If only they could be this decent at home..
Well that's my review, and once again I apologise if it is a bit convoluted and in some parts nonsensical. Trying do two weeks into one article isn't damn easy. Normal service will be resumed next week, despite me being in Eastern Europe and relying upon hotel wi-fi. See you later everybody.
Fife only had one game in week seven, which resulted in another loss. However with pressure mounting on the broad shoulders of Todd Dutiuame to start winning games, some even allegedly speculated that his job was on the line. However his players responded in the best way possible, a four point weekend against Manchester and a home shutout of the Clan thanks to a couple of third period goals. Flyers need to continue this winning vein else those question marks will be raised again, and I'm sure Todd is drumming that mantra into those players each day.
Three teams picked up three points in this period; Nottingham, Belfast and Edinburgh. Panthers had a zero point week in week seven caused by regulation losses in their biggest rivals geographically. As mentioned before, it was former Panther Lawrence who inflicted one of those and I bet Mr Moran was spitting blood over it. With David Ling now in the ranks, they comfortably beat Dundee in the NIC before narrowly losing in Cardiff. That suggests they are getting back to basics. Don't ever discount Corey Neilson's men.
Belfast suffered a rare double reverse against the Devils and are really feeling the pinch of another shortened bench, Matt Nickerson being the latest one to be added to the list. Despite One Direction Gate, the healthy ones recorded a stunning 4-1 home win over Sheffield before winning in overtime at Dundee where it is becoming a hard place to win at. Edinburgh are still improving under Riley Emmerson and they seem to be raising their game against the bigger fish which is making this season ever so interesting. They seem to have found a goalscoring gem in Ryan Hayes as well. Hats off to the Caps metaphorically speaking then.
In need of wins are both Braehead and Manchester. Clan's stuttering form has to be of concern for a team that were expected to sweep all before them in the Gardiner Conference. I'm sure though that Ryan Finnerty will react sharpish if this continues to happen, they are too good to be this inconsistent. Storm (prior to last night) had lost three on the spin and are wondering where their next win will come from but a battling performance in Sheffield when they recovered from a 4-0 first period deficit to tie it up with a fantastic second 20 must give Omar Pacha great heart that good times around the corner. Keep at it, success comes to those who wait. Trust me it does.
Coventry were in Continenal Cup last weekend, so now find themselves at the base of the EIHL table with seven points from eight games. However, they had a much needed confidence win against the Panthers before jetting off and maybe that will kickstart their season. This win obviously spurred them on Poland and they were just 10 minutes away from making the next stage. Bad luck indeed, but they did our league proud with their efforts. If only they could be this decent at home..
Well that's my review, and once again I apologise if it is a bit convoluted and in some parts nonsensical. Trying do two weeks into one article isn't damn easy. Normal service will be resumed next week, despite me being in Eastern Europe and relying upon hotel wi-fi. See you later everybody.
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