Rink Round-Up: Week 6

It's time again to look back on the week that was around the rest of the Elite League in your "Rink Round-Up". Which result(s) stood out the most, all will be revealed here. Time to read on and find out.

Whilst the Steelers were taking on the Panthers, there were two more Elite League games and the remaining three were in the Challenge Cup as this competition nears the end of the initial group stages. Looking at the two Elite League games first then, it was a good Saturday night for Braehead as they won the M8 derby with the visiting Capitals, 5-3. Clan roared into a 4-1 lead by the end of the second and despite Edinburgh making it a one goal game midway through the final twenty, Brendan Brooks' second of the game into the empty net with 45 seconds left secured the points for John Tripp's men.

Manchester Storm had a real battle on their hands with Dundee Stars as their opponents led 3-0 after the opening period, former Storm players Adam Harding and Taylor Dickin on target against their former employers. However Storm hauled themselves back into and Mike Hammond's shorthanded effort in the final two minutes forced overtime. No further scoring ensued after that so it was left to penalties, and Ciaran Long was the only one to score as Stars failed to convert on their three chances.

In the Challenge Cup, it was an excellent Saturday for Adam Keefe's Belfast Giants as they dispatched the Fife Flyers 5-0 in the O. Former NHLer Jonathan Ferland scored twice for the home side, and Jackson Whistle enjoyed a 18 save shutout. Cardiff's stuttering defence of the Challenge Cup continued with a 3-2 home loss to Guildford, Jesse Craige scoring the game winner 27 seconds into overtime for Paul Dixon's men. Despite being outshot comfortably, Milton Keynes doused the Coventry Blaze 5-1 in Buckinghamshire. Pete Russell's men were indebted to Miika Wiikman who stopped 44 out of 45 Blaze efforts whilst Ben Foster, Paul Phillips and Denny Kearney all had multi point nights in offence.

Onto Sunday, Coventry's miserable Challenge Cup weekend continued when they slipped to a 3-2 loss at home to Cardiff. Devils player-coach Andrew Lord getting what turned out to be the decisive goal early in the second period in a game which leaves Blaze's hopes completely in tatters as they only have one point so far. In the other Challenge Cup game, Milton Keynes recorded a four point CC weekend with a 3-2 win in Guildford. That game was decided on penalty shots and it took five rounds to decide that with Francois Verreault-Paul being the man who netted decisive shot and again Wiikman had another immense game with 40 saves from 42 faced.

Elite League leaders Manchester Storm made the long trip to Edinburgh, and after a scoreless opening period: they recorded a 3-1 away win despite losing captain Jay Rosehill to a 5+Game for a checking to the head penalty in the second period. A fantastic four goal opening period for Corey Neilson's Panthers was the catalyst for them as they defeated the Giants 6-3 in the NIC, two second period strikes from Evan Mosey really the skids under the visitors and made the two third period goals for the Giants be just consolation. Finally, a brace from Chase Schaber was a great help for Fife as they defeated fierce rivals Braehead 5-1 in the "Auld Barn"; a game which saw Clan put just 18 shots on Flyers netminder Andy Iles.

And that was the week just gone...

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