Rink Round-Up: Week 12

Our look back at the rest of the Elite League action that didn't involve the Steelers. Games up to and including Sunday 26 November 2017.

Starting first with the Challenge Cup, and a dead rubber game in Steelers qualifying group as Manchester Storm hosted the Nottingham Panthers. Panthers gave rare ice time to third choice netminder Sam Gospel, defencemen Josh Tetlow and Joseph Hazeldine and highly rated forward Jordan Kelsall. However the youngsters were to taste defeat as a second period Luke Moffatt hat-trick helped propel the Storm to a 5-3 win, with Storm defenceman Linden Springer having a couple of fights too.

Fife had beaten Cardiff a few weeks ago in Ice Arena Wales, but this time the Elite League Champions didn't let a lead slip as they recovered from a 2-0 deficit to see off their hosts 4-3. Paul Crowder's goal midway through the final period clinched the points for the Devils, and despite Danick Gauthier making it a one goal hockey game with 55 seconds left: Fife couldn't force overtime. 

Belfast's away run of games began with a win by the odd goal in nine at Coventry. Brendan Connolly scoring the game winner just 20 seconds into overtime, with John Kurtz and Brett Robinson picking braces for their respective sides. Braehead took the M8 derby against the visiting Edinburgh Capitals by an 8-2 scoreline; player-assistant coach Brendan Brooks picking up 3+2 against the league's basement side. Whilst Guildford's trip to Tayside was a fruitful one as they blanked out the Stars 5-0; former Steeler Geoff Walker on target for the Flames who also had a 22 save shutout for netminder Chris Carrozzi - his second of the season.

Moving into Sunday now, and it looked again like the writing was on the proverbial wall for Fife as they trailed the Panthers 3-0 with only 11:12 gone and then 4-1 midway through the second. But once more Fife fought back and took the maximum point haul thanks to Ian Young's second of the game just 36 seconds into the overtime period. Belfast enjoyed another successful raid at IAW as they won 4-3 after a shootout. Cardiff looked set for a win until Connolly scored a leveller with just five seconds left and then in the shootout; it was left to the returning David Rutherford to beat Ben Bowns in the fifth round to secure another win for Adam Keefe's men.

Guildford also secured a four point weekend as they saw off the visiting Milton Keynes Lightning 7-3 at the Spectrum. GB internationalist Ben Davies scored twice for Paul Dixon's men and Swedish defenceman Calle Ackered had yet another multi point night; adding to his ever increasing profile. Finally, in the basement battle Edinburgh Capitals enjoyed just only their second league win of the season as they defeated Dundee 5-3 at Murrayfield. Experienced Kazakhstani forward Sergei Banashkov led by example with 1+2, including the strike that stood up as the eventual game winner.

And that's your Rink Round-Up for another week.

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