Round up of EIHL weekend 12/13th

SATURDAY

Cardiff Devils remain a point clear at the top of the Elite League table following a 2-1 victory over Coventry Blaze.

Leigh Salters put the visitors ahead on the powerplay, while Boris Valabik netted his first Coventry goal to level.

Salters scored a second goal with the man advantage early in the second period, which turned out to be the game-winning goal.

Second-placed Nottingham Panthers came from 3-0 down to beat Braehead Clan 4-3 after a penalty shootout.

Tom Nesbitt and and Matt Keith scored 14 seconds apart in the first period, while Nathan McIver netted the Clan’s third.

Panthers hit back through David Ling and Matthew Myers in the second period, while David Clarke scored the equaliser in period three.

In the shootout, Andy Bohmbach and Juraj Kolnik netted for the Panthers and Dan Green – in between the pipes with Miika Wiikman unwell – saved two of Braehead’s three efforts.

Darryl Lloyd scored twice as Belfast Giants won 4-1 at Manchester Storm.

Lloyd opening the scoring on the powerplay in the first period, before Mathew Sisca’s short-handed goal levelled in the second session.

Adam Keefe scored 22 seconds later and Lloyd grabbed his second as Giants opened up a 3-1 second-period lead, while Brandon Benedict netted his fifth goal of the season – and a 100th Elite League goal – to secure the win.

Sheffield Steelers skated to an important 4-1 victory at Fife Flyers, and most importantly there powerplay record got back on track after suffering in recent weeks.

The hosts went ahead with Jeff Lee scoring his seventh goal of the season, while Robert Dowd ensured the two sides were level at the first intermission.

Ben O’Connor and Colton Fretter scored powerplay goals in the second period and Mathieu Roy’s third-period goal wrapped up the Sheffield victory.

SUNDAY

There were plenty of goals around on Sunday night with all 10 Elite League clubs in action.

Fife Flyerssecured their third home victory in succession by beating Nottingham Panthers 5-2 in Kirkcaldy.

Jeff Lee put the hosts ahead before Steve Lee equalised for Nottingham. Phillippe Paquet made it 2-1 but Panthers hit back through Logan MacMillan.

Powerplay goals in the third period from Justin Fox and TJ Caig put Fife in the driving seat and Michael Dorr added an empty-net goal for good measure.

Sheffield Steelers extended their winning streak to four with a 3-1 victory over Belfast Giants.

Levi Nelson gave Sheffield a first-period lead and Guillaume Desbiens made it 2-o in the third session.

Kris Beech reduced the deficit before Cullen Eddy netted 61 seconds from time to put the icing on the cake.

Video of game

Cardiff Devils are the other form team at the moment, with a four win streak and they opened up a three-point lead at the top of the Elite League table with a 4-1 victory over Coventry Blaze.

Brett Robinson put Coventry ahead but the Devils had a 2-1 first-period lead thanks to goals for Tomas Kurka and Zach Hervato.

Leigh Salters netted in period two and Kurka grabbed his second of the night in the final session.

You may be forgiven for thinking this league is goal crazy as Braehead Clan had a 10-2 victory at Edinburgh Capitals.

The Caps took the lead through Trevor Gerling, but goals from Chris Bruton, Scott Pitt and Stefan Meyer saw Clan lead 3-1 at the first intermission.

Bruton completed his hat-trick before the halfway point of the game, while Thomas Nesbitt, Pitt and Brendan Brooks also scored second-period goals, with Jacob Johnston replying for the hosts.

In the third period, Bruton netted his fourth and Pitt secured a hat-trick to crown a memorable win.

Dundee Stars beat Manchester Storm 8-3 in the Dundee Ice Arena.

Jason Gray put the visitors ahead on the powerplay and Brett Switzer made it 2-0, before Storm hit back through Mathew Sisca and Ricards Birznish (powerplay).

Switzer completed his hat-trick with two quick goals and Bobby Chaumont made it 5-2.

Paul Phillips closed the gap to two but Dundee saw the game out with two goals from David Turon and one from Riley Wetmore.

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