Tonight, the Coors Belfast Giants will take to the ice to play in the biggest game ever hosted in the Odyssey Arena. The Giants are one win away from clinching their first ever Elite League Championship to add to the Superleague and Playoff victories of 01/02 and 02/03.
But, there is still 60 minutes of hockey to be played against the Cardiff Devils, the team which handed the Giants the opportunity to wrap up the league on home ice, by defeating the Newcastle Vipers 5-1 at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle. Cardiff come into this game on a 3 game winning streak, having lost their last game on the 12th Feb against the Giants in the WNIR.
The Giants, on the other hand, are looking to win their 7th league game in a row, having last lost to the Nottingham Panthers in the Odyssey.
If the Giants win in regulation time, they will lift the Monteith Bowl for the second time, any other result will mean that the league may be won without playing a game when Sheffield play Newcastle on Sunday evening, or again when Newcastle play Cardiff on Wednesday.
No matter what happens, it’s sure to be a party at the Odyssey tonight.
| P | TEAM | GP | W(OT) | L(OT) | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Giants | 54 | 46(0) | 5(3) | 95 |
| 2 | Steelers | 54 | 41(0) | 11(2) | 84 |
| 3 | Panthers | 54 | 38(0) | 12(4) | 80 |
| 4 | Devils | 54 | 32(0) | 12(10) | 74 |
| 5 | Blaze | 54 | 32(0) | 20(2) | 66 |
| 6 | Clan | 54 | 31(0) | 19(4) | 66 |
| 7 | Stingrays | 54 | 16(0) | 34(4) | 36 |
| 8 | Stars | 54 | 13(0) | 35(6) | 32 |
| 9 | Capitals | 54 | 13(0) | 37(4) | 30 |
| 10 | Flyers | 54 | 8(0) | 40(6) | 22 |
| Points | Robert Dowd | 78 |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | Robert Dowd | 40 |
| Assists | Craig Peacock | 49 |
| PIM | Adam Keefe | 247 |