Week 15 in the EIHL

17 Dec 2012 | Ollie Hampson

The Nottingham Panthers opened a four point gap over the Belfast Giants and the Cardiff Devils faced the challenge of three games in three days in three countries.

Wednesday 12 December

Nottingham Panters V Edinburgh Capitals 1:2

The Nottingham Panthers suffered a shock defeat to the Capitals on wednesday, despite getting on the board early.

David Ling put the Panthers ahead with just 1.21 played, but despite firing 16 shots towards Tomas Hiadlovsky in the Capitals net, the score remaing 1:0 going into the second period.

Edinburgh tied the game up at 23.53 as Peter Holecko found the net on one of only 8 shots that period, and the scores were tied going into the final 20 mintues

It didn't take long for the tie to be broken, as Jason Beckett was called for hooking at 42.41, Curtis Leinweber put Edinburgh infront at 43.18 and the despite having 42 shots in the game, Nottingham couldn't add to their first goal and Edinburgh skated out as 2:1 victors.

Friday 14 December

Belfast Giants V Cardiff Devils 4:1

The first of three games in three days in three countries for the Cardiff Devils started with a visit to last seasons champions Belfast Giants.

Cardiff struck first, after a release request from Devin Didiomete earlier in the week, his replacement Jesse Gimblett scored on his first shift as a Devil at 2.39 to give Cardiff a 1:0 lead.

The lead lasted over 10 minutes, but eventually Belfast tied the game as Andrew Fournier beat Phil Osaer at 12:44.

With time winding down in the opening session, Jeff Mason put the Giants in front at 19.09

No score in the second period meant it was a one goal game in the final 20 minutes.

Belfast extended the lead at 46:15 as Mark Garside found the net.

Jeff Mason was then thrown out of the game for a check to the head on Devils forward Chris Blight, which was later extended to a three game ban, but that didn't stop the Giants as Scott Champagne put the Giants 4:1 up with an empty net goal at 19:04 to finish the game.

Saturday 15 December

Hull Stingrays V Nottingham Panthers 1:3

Nottingham looked to bounce back from a shock midweek loss to Edinburgh as they travelled to Hull to face the Stingrays.

Nottingham were only able to convert one of their 21 first period shots, Matt Francis beat Ben Bowns at 18.04 to give the Panthers a 1:0 lead ahead of the second period.

Panthers new signing Kelsey Wilson then extended the lead at 35.46 as the only goal from 23 second period shots, to give Nottingham a 2:0 lead going into the final period.

Hull pulled one back through Kurtis Dulle at 40.53, and seven minutes later Jordan Fox put the game away with the Panthers second powerplay goal at 47.45 to give them a 3:1 victory.

Cardiff Devils V Braehead Clan 5:1

Braehead travelled with only 11 skaters to Cardiff due to injuries and sickness, so it was an uphill battle before it even began.

Despite having a heavy advantage on numbers, it took 17.06 for the Devils to open the scoring, Phil Hill slotting the puck between the legs of Garrett Zemlak to give the Devils a 1:0 lead going into the second period.

After a Braehead too many men call and hooking call to Davide Nicoletti, Chris Blight found the net with a 5 on 3 powerplay goal at 26.28 to extend the lead. Captain Stuart MacRae than fired the puck in the net at 32.56 to make it 3:0.

Braehead did manage to get on the board through Rob Farmer at 15.07 but it wouldn't be enough to stage a comeback, especially as Stuart MacRae score his second of the game at 38.22.

Just the one goal in the final period, Chris Blight put the game away at 46.54 to give the Devils a 5:1 win.

Coventry Blaze V Fife Flyers 6:3

It took until their was five seconds remaining in the first period for the Blaze to take the lead, Dustin Cameron found the net on a powerplay goal.

Fife responded early in the second period as Bobby Chaumont scored his 12th of the year, but Mike Bayrack put Coventry back ahead less than two minutes later.

Greg Leeb set up his brother Brad Leeb for the Blaze third goal at 27.16, but Braehead cut away at the lead straight away as Jason Pitton grabbed his 10th of the year at 27.48.

No more score in the second meant the game was a one goal game with 20 minutes to play.

Fife tied the game at 3 through Kris Hogg at 43.54, but less than a minute later, Mike Bayrack grabbed his second of the game, before completing his hat-trick five minutes later to make it 5:3.

Shea Guthrie then grabbed the final goal at 52.02 to give the Blaze a 6:3 victory.

Sheffield Steelers V Dundee Stars 3:1

A scoreless opening period lead to a quick second period goal from Matt Stephenson at 20.53 to give the Steelers the lead.

Dundee tied the game at 29.18 through Tristan Harper, but just over a minute later, Steven Goertzen put the Steelers back infront at 30.55, and with no score in the rest of the period the teams were separated by one ahead of the final period.

Sheffield wrapped up the game with an empty net goal with only a second remaining to give them a 3:1 win.

Sunday 16 December

Nottingham Panthers V Belfast Giants 6:1

The two teams battling for the top spot met in Nottingham with a surprising outcome.

Belfast left the opening period with a 1:0 lead after Adam Keefe scored a shorthanded goal at 7.21, but early in the second period Nottingham tied the game through a powerplay goal from Bruce Graham at 22.37.

The Panthers then took the lead at 26.42 as David Ling beat Stephen Murphy, quickly followed by a short handed goal from Eric Werner at 28.21.

Nottingham got a second shorthanded goal at 30.34 as Brandon Benedict made it 4:1 with a lot of time remaining.

Jason Beckett made it 5:1 to the Panthers at 44.27, and then to add insult to injury, Matt Myers made it 6:1 with a powerplay goal at 53:40 to finish off the game.

Edinburgh Capitals V Braehead Clan 5:3

Braehead travelled back up to Scotland after their shortbenched 5:1 loss to the Devils the night before.

Edinburgh stuck first as Richard Hartmann grabbed a powerplay goal at 9.09, but Braehead responded with a goal from Steve Birnstill at 9.48.

Edinburgh regained the lead as Curtis Leinweber made it 2:1 at 16.40 to give the Caps a lead into the second period.

The Capitals then extended the lead as Rene Jarolin made it 3:1 with a powerplay goal at 34.27 for his 17th goal of the year.

Braehead did manage to pull one back in the third period, Ash Goldie scored his 16th of the year at 49.21, but seven minutes later the Caps gained a two goal lead again. This time Brent Patry grabbed the goal.

The Clan responded quickly as Jade Galbraith made it 4:3 at 16.17, put as the Clan pulled their goalie, Richard Hartmann made it 5:3 with six seconds to go to make it 5:3.

Fife Flyers V Cardiff Devils 4:2

The Devils finished off their three games in three days in three countries with a trip to Fife.

Fife Struck first, Zac Carriveau found the net at 9.59 for the only goal of the first period.

Cardiff tied the game early in the second, Captain Stuart MacRae found the goal at 20.28, but before the period was out, Fife made it 2:1 at 18.10 with Casey Haines on the powerplay.

Another powerplay goal at 43.54 gave Fife a 3:1 lead with less than 20 to play.

Josh Batch pulled the Devils back to within one at 17.20, but with Phil Osaer on the bench for the extra attacker, Steve McAlpine finished off the game to make it a 4:2 win with the empty net goal at 18.57