Rink Round-Up: Weeks 13 and 14

Welcome to a double header of the Rink Round-Up.

We will start matters with week number 13, and that began on the Wednesday night. Whilst the Steelers were dismantling the Stars on Tayside, the current EIHL champions were in Murrayfield against the Caps. It certainly didn't look good after one period as Edinburgh led 2-0 but Devils rallied in the second to lead 4-2 abetted by a Matt Pope brace. Callum Boyd made it 4-3 but Drew Paris sealed the points for the Devils at 45:18 and the Caps had no way back in a game that had just one minor penalty called all night.

Onto the Saturday of that week now. We will start this day with the Devils trip to Manchester, and what a game this was. Physical and full of action, meaning the crowd were not short on entertainment. Devils managed to edge it by the odd goal in seven and it took an overtime strike from Sean Bentivoglio to ensure the points went to South Wales. Another competitive game was in Milton Keynes as the home side took on Belfast which meant Matt Nickerson faced his former employers. Nickerson, believe it or not, opened the scoring but Giants stepped onto the gas after that and eventually ran out 6-3 winners in Buckinghamshire with Darcy Murphy and Steve Saviano both scoring twice.

Despite taking a second period lead at Braehead through the prolific Marc-Olivier Vallerand, it wasn't to be the Blaze's night as the home side bounced back to score three unanswered and secure a 3-1 home win in Renfrewshire. The two clubs at the bottom of the table had no luck either, Fife seeing off Edinburgh 6-2 helped by braces from Danick Gauthier and Shayne Stockton whilst Dundee were defeated 7-3 at Guildford for whom impressive defenceman Calle Ackered had another multi-point night.

Into Sunday, and it was the Neil Black derby at Braehead as the Panthers took on the Clan and it proved to be a success for Corey Neilson as they defeated their hosts 3-0. Patrick Galbraith had a 43 save shutout for the Panthers as Clan did everything but score. Dundee had been beaten comprehensively on Saturday but on Sunday in IAW; they slipped to an unlucky 3-2 loss with Joey Haddad scoring that all-important winner in the second period but Joey DeConcilys made them sweat for it. Guildford also completed a four point weekend as they overcame the visiting Giants 5-3 in an ill tempered game that really kicked off in the last four seconds.

Another game which had its fair share of penalty minutes came in the Sky Dome and it was the visiting Storm who left the happier, as they recorded a 4-2 road win with former Clan centre Mike Hammond scoring that all important security goal. Whilst Sunday's final game saw more misery for the hapless Caps as they were defeated at home by Fife by 5-1. Carlo Finucci scored a hat-trick for Todd Dutiaume's men who took the game away from their hosts with a third period blast and completed a successful home and home in as many nights.

Time for week 14's round up now and that began on the same Friday evening as the Steelers travelled to and won in Braehead. The other game came in Ice Arena Wales as Guildford travelled to Cardiff, and the home side were three goals to the good before the 24 minute mark. However, Flames scored twice in the closing stages of the second period to reduce it to a one goal game. Cardiff secured the points though with an empty netter from captain Jake Morissette with just 24 seconds left, leaving the Flames pointless and rueing the six other power play chances they were given on the night.

Saturday saw Cardiff win again, and inflict a rare defeat on the Panthers. Andrew Lord's outshot their hosts 37-21 and fully deserved their win thanks to goals from Paul Crowder and Joey Martin; making Zack Phillips' third period strike for Panthers a consolation. Signs then that the current champions are starting to get into a groove and won't relinquish their title without a fight. In another huge game, Belfast overcame Manchester 6-4 in the Storm Shelter thanks to two goals in the last 76 seconds after the teams had traded goals with frequent regularity.

Coventry got a much needed win, seeing off Braehead 4-3 after overtime in the Sky Dome. Captain Jordan Pietrus scoring the winner exactly 60 seconds into the extra period, and completing a three point personal haul on the night in question. Also getting a much needed win in the other game were Milton Keynes as they saw off Dundee 5-1 in Buckinghamshire; a four goal first period saw to that with three of them coming in the opening five minutes. Brian Hart reduced the margin midway through the third but Tommy Mele ensured Pete Russell's men would go nap.

Finally we have Sunday and it ended being a zero point weekend for the Panthers as they slipped to a 5-2 loss in Guildford. Jesse Craige scored twice for Paul Dixon's men as they put a question mark against the title credentials of Corey Neilson's men whilst former Steeler Geoff Walker was also on target for the Flames. Danny Stewart will be feeling a lot happier as his Blaze side completed a rare four point weekend as they recovered from a 2-0 deficit to win 4-2 in Edinburgh, captain Pietrus scoring twice in the comeback.

Manchester seem to be slipping away from the title race as Omar Pacha enjoyed a victory against his old club, 5-3 the score. Three unanswered goals in the final period changed the outcome of the game with the deal being completely sealed by another former Storm player in Adam Harding. A much needed win for the short benched Stars. And to finish with, it was a good Sunday for the impressive Fife Flyers as they saw off the visiting Lightning 5-2 in the Auld Barn: helped by a brace from one game NHLer Peter LeBlanc.

And that's the double header of a Rink Round-Up for you.

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