Rink round-up

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All the news and scores from around the bmibaby Elite Ice Hockey League, courtesy of Ronnie Nichol and Jim Lydon.

Thursday 12th October

Belfast Giants 2 Cardiff Devils 3 (after penalty shootout)

Devils moved up a couple of places in the table with a winning shot by Mark Smith in the penalty shootout.  Giants, with their point for the loss, move to within a point of leaders Nottingham, who still have 2 games in hand. A goal for each side in the opening period saw neither team gain an advantage.  Brad Voth (3rd of the league season) opened for Devils at 3.22 but Jeff Hutchins (7) tied it up at 8.47.

A powerplay goal by Jason Ruff (7) at 20.54 was the only goal of the middle session but in the 3rd period it was Smith who again tied it up when scoring the only goal of the session at 42.04. In the shootout Smith was the only scorer from the 6 shooters.

Period Scores: 1-1, 1-0, 0-1
Penalty Mins: 21-25
Shots On: Mike Minard 26, Phil Osaer 26 

Saturday 14th October

Sheffield Steelers 1 Edinburgh Capitals 3

Good road win for Capitals against fancied Steelers with the visitors never giving up a 1st period advantage.  Capitals opened up at 5.20 with Gregor Slak (his 3rd league goal) firing past Jody Lehman and with the man advantage Jason Silverthorn (7) doubled the lead at 12.56.

Capitals continued to create more chances in the 2nd period - outshooting the hosts by 17-6 and it was no surprise when Darius Pliskauskas (3) made it 3-0 at 36.25. Steelers eventually got on the board at 38.03 thanks to Phil Hill (5) but that was as close as they got as Stephen Murphy put up the shutters.

Period Scores: 0-2, 1-1, 0-0
Penalty Mins: 8-6
Shots On: Jody Lehman 31, Stephen Murphy 32

Basingstoke Bison 3 Coventry Blaze 1

A tight game in Basingstoke saw the home side gain an important win and handed Coventry their first loss in 5 games. Again, an opening period advantage was the foundation for the win as a powerplay goal by Blair Manning at 11.51 and a strike by Kevin Bergin at 18.43 saw Bison in control after 20 minutes. Blaze made a big effort in the middle stanza - outshooting Bison by 12-3 but only had a powerplay goal by Sylvain Cloutier to show for it at 38.08.

Blaze continued to press in the 3rd period but could not find a way past Nick Boucher and with their own goaltender Trevor Koenig off for the extra attacker Ryan O'Keefe found the empty net with 20 seconds remaining.

Period Scores: 2-0, 0-1, 1-0
Penalty Mins: 16-16
Shots On: Nick Boucher 36, Trevor Koenig 21 + 1 ENG

Belfast Giants 3 Hull Stingrays 1

Something had to give at the Odyssey - Belfast who had lost their last two home games, played hosts to Hull, who had lost their last two on the road. As it turned out it was the home team who ended their run of losses and went to top spot in the standings in the process.  Todd Kelman (4) opened the scoring for the hosts with 13 minutes on the clock, Jeff Hutchins (8) doubled their lead in the 19th minute.

Despite the home team out shooting their visitors by 2 to 1 in the second period  they couldn't add to their goal tally and the period ended goalless.  The Giants went further ahead in the 48th minute with a 5 on 3 powerplay goal scored by Mark Dutiaume (5) The home side surprisingly changed goalies in the 56th minute denying Mike Minard his shutout. Lee Mitchell (PP) with his first league goal of the season got a consolation for the visitors with less than 30 seconds remaining.

Period Scores: 2-0, 0-0, 1-1
Penalty Mins: 24-16
Shots On: Mike Minard 18, Kevin Kelly  4, Miroslav Bielik 26

 

Sunday 15th October

Hull Stingrays 2 Sheffield Steelers 0

After their loss to table toppers Belfast last night, the Stingrays were back on home ice in this Yorkshire derby. They kept up their impressive home form as they recorded their 4th straight league win, this win see's them join the Steelers on the 9 point mark in the league. Only the one goal in the first period and it came the way of the home team, as Slava Koulikov with his first league goal of the season scored on the powerplay in the 5th minute.

A tight second period that saw the visitors out-shot their opponents, but they could not find a way past Bielik in the home goal and after 40 minutes the hosts still lead by a slender goal. The third period was as tight as the second with little between the teams, as the clock ran down Sheffield pulled goaltender Lehman for the extra skater to try and take the game into overtime. But, it was the home side who had the last say as Sergiy Rublivsky (7) found the empty net with a second left on the clock.  Miroslav Bielik turned away all 39 shots on him and recorded the leagues second shut-out of the season.

Period Scores: 1-0, 0-0, 1-0
Penalty Mins: 14-26
Shots On: Miroslav Bielik 39, Jody Lehman 24 + 1 ENG
 

Coventry Blaze 4 Newcastle Vipers 2

A feisty encounter in Coventry saw the home side pile the misery on Vipers, who fell to their 4th straight loss and now have 8 losses in their last 9 games. It took only 52 seconds for the home side to net what was the 1st of 3 powerplay goals on the night - Dan Carlson (his 7th league goal) netting. A flare up at 8.51 then saw Reid Simonton of Blaze and Vipers netminder Curtis Cruikshank ejected before Jonathan Weaver (3) levelled at 9.32.  Adam Calder (2) then edged Blaze back into the lead at 18.53 to end the 1st session.

Vipers were back in it when Matt Beveridge (4) netted at 34.01 and despite chances at both ends the game remained tied at 2 going into the 3rd period.  Carlson (8) on the powerplay again edged Blaze in front and this time there was no Vipers comeback with Neal Martin (1) icing the win on the powerplay at 57.51.

Period Scores: 2-1, 0-1, 2-0
Penalty Mins: 48-69
Shots On: Trevor Koenig 23, Curtis Cruikshank 7
Mark Lee 40

Edinburgh Capitals 3 Cardiff Devils 4

After being on a high with their tremendous result last night against Sheffield the home side came back down to earth with a bump. They were 3 down after the first period then almost put the game into overtime with a storming come back in the 3rd period.  There was only 39 seconds on the clock when the visitors opened the scoring with a goal from Dave Ianazzo (3). They doubled their lead with 9 minutes on the clock this time Mark Richardon (2) found the back of Murphy's net. Richardson (3) then scored his second of the game in the 19th minute.

Just over a minute into the second period Gerard Adams with his first league goal of the season looked to have put the game beyond doubt.  Gregor Slak (4) began a late surge by the home side with a goal 13 minute from the end of the period. Dino Bauba (4) in the 52nd minute made it a two goal game. Then Martin Cingel (2) cut the deficit to one 2 minutes later. But try as they might the home side couldn't get the goal that would have taken the game into overtime.

Period Scores: 0-3, 0-1, 3-0
Penalty Mins: 14-30
Shots On: Stephen Murphy 30, Phil Osaer 34

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