Double Overtime, 3rd March...

Just a quick thing before we begin-I've noticed that a lot of people visit the blog throughout the day-and doubtless many of you get somewhat disappointed when there's been no updates. I tend to update the Breakaway any time in the afternoon-usually towards 4 or 5 pm but sometimes a little earlier, so if you want the latest post hot off the wires, as it were, it's best to check just after then to avoid disappointment. Of course, if you want to check again throughout the day just on the off chance, I won't stop you...:)

Anyway-on to today's post...

Never mind Lincolnshire-if you want some earth-shaking action, then the EIHL this weekend wasn't a bad place to start. This column is channeling its inner Dinah Washington in order to best sum-up the events of the weekend...

"What a difference...a day makes. Twenty-fouuurrrr...little hours..."

On Saturday night the Blaze were cruising after a deserved win in Nottingham and Basingstoke had the consolation of knowing that, after their overtime win at the Silverdome, Edinburgh had to travel to Coventry and win in regulation, in the process doing something only that had been achieved by the away team three times all season in league play, in order to go above them. As for Sunday night...it was dominated by one result.

Coventry Blaze 1, Edinburgh Capitals 3.

Suddenly, the game is back on at both ends of the table...with a vengeance.

Anyway...on to the team by team review of a Lincolnshire-earthquake of a weekend...

Basingstoke: Ouch. An overtime loss to their closest rivals in a must-win game, followed by those same rivals beating the league leaders to go above the Bison and (temporarily at least) put them out of the playoffs. With only nine players and two goalies it will now need some of the "Terrific Ten" magic shown earlier in the season, otherwise the KO Cup will be the only highlight of the next few weeks down south...
Grade: E

Belfast: After getting hammered by Sheffield on Thursday, the Giants earned themselves a little respectability with a 4-1 win against Newcastle as they try for an (unlikely) second place...however, they'll have to hope that both Sheffield and Coventry falter spectacularly in order to be sure of it, and neither of the two clubs above them look like doing that...
Grade: C+

Cardiff: Two wins against Hull, although the Devils were pushed all the way on Humberside, mean that the South Wales side are slowly on the way back, just in time for the playoff run. If we're brutally honest this game was something of a dead rubber for both sides, with the only decider on offer being who the Devils play in the playoffs, although they still have to look over their shoulders at the chasing Manchester Phoenix in the scrap to gain a slightly "easier" playoff opponent. As for Hull...even pride appears to be slipping away...
Grade: B

Coventry: From a much-needed two points in Nottingham to a loss on home ice to Edinburgh, which removes one of their games in hand and means the other one (a home date with Newcastle on the last league weekend of the season) suddenly becomes a factor. Despite firing 40 shots on J-F Perras the Caps netminder and defence stood up much better than the far-more-hyped Panthers did on the Saturday, and earned themselves a spot on Sheffield's Christmas card list while they were at it. Wednesday's game against Sheffield suddenly looks even trickier with an possible injury to Neal Martin and the continuing absence of Jonathan Weaver. But of course, most Blaze fans believe that there's still no way their team can lose the title if they play to their potential...can they? It's going to be a lot of fun finding out over the next few weeks...
Grade: C+

Edinburgh: A dream weekend for the Caps-and, but for Kyle Horne missing an empty net in the closing stages of Saturday night's game, it could have been even better. Despite not registering a single shot in the third period on Sunday (to Blaze's 14) the Scots held out and built on their excellent overtime win in Basingstoke the night before with a result that sent shockwaves up and down the EIHL. The playoff Mission Impossible is suddenly looking a lot more likely...
Grade: A

Hull: With only pride left to play for, the Stingrays couldn't even manage a win to make themselves feel a little better-although they did earn themselves a point on Sunday. Three more weekends and the misery on Humberside will be over, as the Derby County of the EIHL fade, mostly un-mourned, into the sunset, with the hope of better times to come...
Grade: F

Manchester: Two games, two 5-2 scorelines-the Phoenix coming out on top against Newcastle after being beaten by a charging Sheffield on Saturday. And this is the way things have gone all season for the Mancunians-losing away before winning at home-the team have only won seven games (including OT wins) of 23 away but 14 of 25 at home-a record better than, among others, Newcastle and Cardiff. This alone means that they still have hope of getting into sixth place-especially if the double-act of Tallari and Stauffacher don't lose their sights...
Grade: B-

Newcastle: Two losses for the Vipers in their away weekend...not exactly ideal. Still, with their fate pretty much decided (they're settled in fifth with six-point gaps to the teams both above and below them) the Geordies will perhaps already have one eye on a likely playoff meeting with Nottingham...
Grade: E

Nottingham: Like the Vipers, the Panthers are settled into fourth, with only a small hope of improving their position over the next three weekends (assuming Belfast don't slump again, that is). That isn't excusing their 5-1 loss to Coventry this weekend, just (perhaps) explaining it...
Grade: D-

Sheffield: The most important result for the Steelers happened when none of them were on the ice-Sunday's result in Coventry was huge in keeping the title race open after the Hallam Arena side did their part by beating both Belfast and Manchester, but Edinburgh's win on Sunday means that the Panther's capitulation on Saturday didn't help the Blaze open up any more of a gap. And the two teams meet in Sheffield on Wednesday in what is easily the biggest game of the season to date-as a signature on the Steelers Forum says-"failure is not an option" for the Steelers this time round...
Grade: A

It's a busy week this week, with the aforementioned Sheffield-Coventry clash on Wednesday, Nottingham taking on Newcastle and Belfast, and Hull meeting Basingstoke in a battle of the bottom two. Of course I'll be keeping an eye on all those games, so check back tomorrow for more thoughts, ramblings and reaction to the weekend as the dust settles...
Keep keeping your eye on the puck...