Double Overtime, 28th January

Suddenly, the league is wide open again, despite the artificial cushion given by the Blaze's games in hand, especially after a weekend which saw the Giants gain four points as the leaders lost twice...

Basingstoke: The Terrific Ten finally suffered results perhaps more in keeping with their current injury problems, as they lost 5-1 and 5-4 to Edinburgh and Newcastle. The good news is that the Capitals and Hull both gained only two points between them on the Bison, but nevertheless the fact that the luck has finally run out for the Ten...
Grade: D

Belfast: What can you say about the Giants' winning run that hasn't already been said? Another four-pointer coupled with the Blaze losing twice means that, in a state of affairs which looked very unlikely only a few months ago, the Northern Irelanders can go top if they beat Hull on Thursday. Oh...and they've got a chance to go even further away on Saturday, because Coventry come to the Odyssey. This weekend two wins against Hull and Edinburgh earn themselves a solid...
Grade: A

Cardiff: Another torrid weekend for the Devils, but there's light at the end of the tunnel because Phil Osaer returning, and new signing Dion Darling should also bolster the roster next week. Manchester and Sheffield both beat the Welsh side by the same score of 5-1. Joe Myers will consider this weekend "character building" but the grade will only reflect the results, so it's...
Grade: D

Coventry: The wheels haven't come off, but if this weekend is the shape of things to come then they're looking distinctly wobbly already-shipping ten goals while their much-vaunted attack only scored four. On the evidence of the forums, sections of the Blaze fanbase are already in full-on panic mode, with Barrie Moore in particular taking the heat. It can't be denied that both performances were not the Blaze at their best-however, that does an injustice to both Nottingham and Newcastle, who both played superbly. The grade applies to the Blaze performances, though, and with their main rivals gaining four points on them, it doesn't look good...
Grade: E

Edinburgh: Two more points against their nearest playoff rivals, with a gain of one point thanks to the overtime win, could be crucial despite the loss to Belfast the night before...the Caps simply refuse to die. Unfortunately for them, so do the Bison, which means that their loss takes away another game in the Mission Almost Impossible of their playoff chase...
Grade: C

Hull: The Stingrays are still playing hard, but Sheffield and Belfast are a class apart and even a delayed face-off couldn't stop the Giants on Sunday. Saturday against the Steelers was another washout-3-0, to be precise...the playoff hopes on Humberside are all but gone already...
Grade: E

Manchester: This weekend was Steve Fone's coming-out party, as the Blaze back-up suited up for the Phoenix due to Scott Fankhouser's injury and immediately held the Devils to one goal as his forwards scored five at the other end. Nottingham spoiled the party for Tony Hand's thousandth league game by nicking a 4-3 win on Sunday night-however, the two points on Saturday night will be very welcome indeed as the Phoenix try and sneak a little higher in the playoff places..
Grade: C+

Newcastle: Four points-including a win away at the league leaders, with just two lines? That will do nicely for Viperland, thank you very much. On Sunday the niggling approach of the Geordies worked to perfection in knocking the Blaze off their game, and Saturday saw a professional performance against the equally short-benched Bison. The league title is gone unless three teams suffer a simultaneous collapse, but the Vipers now have a chance to build up some momentum going into the playoff run-in.
Grade: B+

Nottingham: Saturday saw one of the best performances from the Panthers this season in beating the Blaze 6-2-not only that, but young Brit Kurt Reynolds played superbly on defence and is definitely one to watch. Sunday saw a trickier game against a resilient Manchester, but Patrik Wallenberg's winner eight minutes from time led to a four-pointer which keeps the momentum going from last Wednesday's Challenge Cup final victory...
Grade: A

Sheffield: Did you know the Steelers hadn't had a shut out before this weekend? Surprising, I know-but Hull were the unlucky ones as they were the Steelers' first shutout this season on Saturday. Sunday saw them beat the struggling Cardiff Devils away from home for another two points which keep them in touch (just) with Belfast...
Grade: B+

That's your weekend review-the only midweek game this week sees Belfast with a chance to go top as they take on Hull at the Odyssey on Thursday...

Tomorrow will see further ruminations on money, as well as a round up of a few recent signings as the deadline draws ever closer...
Keep keeping your eye on the puck...