Song and Dance...

Happy Tuesday. I've spent the past few hours trying to craft a reasoned and logical response to people asking just what I want from EIHL clubs which would improve the fan experience, but I'm still not satisfied with it-there's just bits in it that even now I'm not happy with the sound of...thus this column is something of a fall-back-but no less interesting for it...Just because now is the real business-end of the season, it's time for one of PW's patented song-lyric-to-team matches, part one...beloved of all of one person on the Elite Forum! Anyway...these lyrics are my way of summing up my views and reflections on each club's prospects for the run-in...Plus, the famous One-Minute Preview returns for the Challenge Cup Final Semi

Basingstoke Bison
"Voice so true inside calling...To pick you up and march you on..Keep from falling...Hear me now!"
Machinehead: Imperium

The Bison, this season at least, are a team driven along by the passion of their crowd. Even with only eleven men and no starting goalie for nearly a quarter of the season, the Hampshire side keep going, forced along on a wave of new support. And this will stand them very well for the run-in and playoffs...the Bison are well worth a punt to make the playoff weekend and definitely worth a punt on the KO Cup...the revolution is not over down south by a long way...

Belfast Giants
"It doesn't make a bit of difference if you start what you can't finish....
Every story needs an ending, after all."
Motion City Soundtrack: Can't Finish What You Started

The Giants came so close...but now the chance of league glory has all but gone. Question is-with the team all seemingly on the same page, can they pull themselves together for the stretch run, recapture the form that took them to the brink of genuinely challenging for the title and pull off an unlikely playoff title? Don't bet against it-but don't put your house on it either...

Cardiff Devils:
"Let's dance to Joy Division, and celebrate the irony...
Everything is going wrong, but we're so happy"
The Wombats: Let's Dance to Joy Division

Let's be honest here...had the Devils not been hit by injuries, they could well be up chasing for the title. Yet, you won't really find a huge amount of moaning in South Wales. The Devils are getting their team back to full fitness just in time for the stretch run. Playoff glory is the Holy Grail for the Devils side now-they've come oh-so-close to it on several occasions recently, and but for penalties would have done so last year. The Devils look like a team who, if they finally hit form at the right time and get everyone firing, will win the playoffs. And they'd deserve it.

Coventry Blaze
"You got me begging you for mercy...why don't you release me?"
Duffy: "Mercy"

The current UK number one could be a message from the rest of the league to the Blaze...they just roll on, and on, and on. The league title is looking more and more likely with every narrow win, they're in the KO Cup Final yet again, and it seems like nothing can stop them. But, for the league's sake, someone had better at least give them a run...this must be the first time the majority of the league wants Sheffield to make a damn good run at the league title...

Edinburgh Capitals
"I so want to get back on track
And I’ll do whatever it takes...Even if it kills me"
Motion City Soundtrack: Even If It Kills Me

The Capitals are still hanging around...hanging around...five points is not an insurmountable margin by any means when chasing the playoffs, even with the games running out fast. The Scots have won themselves a lot of friends this season with their mix of skill, youthful Scottish energy and a little grit, even if the points return has been somewhat less than hoped-for. With all the teams but Basingstoke cruising slowly into their playoff positions, the Capitals still need to pull off a miracle in order to make it to the post-season, but I for one think that they just may be able to do it if the Bison aren't hyper-vigilant for the remainder of the season...

One Minute Preview: Challenge Cup Final Second Leg

Why the Panthers will win: First and foremost, they have a three-goal lead from the first leg. Secondly, they have the second leg at home, and have five or six thousand Panthers fans roaring them on to a cup victory. They've also well and truly laid the ghost of losing to the Steelers with that 6-1 victory on Saturday.
Why the Steelers will win: Revenge will be uppermost in the mind of those from Sheffield-Hull caught some of the fury on Sunday night but with a trophy on the line and their biggest rivals the opponents, let's just say that motivation will not be a problem. However, the three-goal deficit just might be...

Verdict: I can't see past the three-goal deficit in this one. With Steelers-Panthers games always close, and the incentive of winning a trophy against their biggest rivals in front of a raucous home crowd, the newly-resolute Panthers will turn up for this one and, though the Steelers may win on the night, they won't win by enough. Steelers to win on the night by one-Panthers to win the cup.

(translation, given my prediction record....put your money on Steelers) :)

That's your Tuesday update-check back tomorrow for the second half of the run-in summary and (if I can get it perfected) my manifesto for all EIHL clubs...

oh, and keep keeping your eye on the puck...