International Review and EPL Preview Part 2...

I know, I know...this looks a bit strange. Basically I'm going to be out at work until around 6pm tomorrow so thought I'd get this on early on Friday, as by tomorrow evening a lot of EPL people will be on their way to Coventry already. First of all, though...

Reasons to be cheerful:...I've just got back from the GB/Sweden U20 game at the Skydome. As you'd expect of friendly games, it lacked a little in intensity but this was more than made up for by the sheer skill of the Swedes...you forgot pretty much instantly that most of these players were barely old enough to drink the MoM beer legally, never mind play senior hockey. Some of the speed and stick-handling exhibited by the youngsters, particularly Niclas Backlund and player-of-the-game Marcus Persson, was well above even that which would earn rave reviews at EIHL level. And as for the skating...Neal Martin would have to work hard to keep up with them...

However, despite this, the expected tanking never really materialised-the Swedes did spend long periods in the GB zone and tested both Stevie Lyle and Stephen Murphy (who played 30 mins each) on many occasions, but when the home side played as a unit, it looked to be more than equal to the task of keeping up with their more illustrious opponents. It was nice to see David Clarke back on British ice and his goal for 2-2 was beautifully taken as he reacted quickest to poke home a rebound from an acute angle-Stephen Murphy will want the first Swedish goal back though as a shot from the point dribbled through his five-hole.

All in all a performance from which GB fans can take heart from-they may have been pulled this way and that at times by the fast Swedish passing but held thier shape well and didn't play too many sloppy passes themselves. Drawing 2-2 with one of the top hockey countries in the world, even if it is their U20 side, is an achievement in itself for a Div 1 nation, so let's hope the squad can build on this in Innsbruck...

Meanwhile, back in domestic competition...
It's time for the second half of our EPL playoff preview, with Slough and Guildford coming under the microscope...(Bracknell and Sheffield were covered in Thursday's post)

Slough Jets
The richest side in the EPL are stuffed with EIHL-quality players-Steve Moria is still producing the goods at age 48, Jan Krajicek is by far one of the best defencemen in Britain, never mind his own league, and Blaz Emersic and Joe Cicarello round out an intimidatingly strong import corps. On d there's also Paddy Ward, who is carving out a very good career indeed at EPL level, and on forward watch out for Michael Bowman, who's made a strong return from a long injury layoff this season. The major obstacle to Slough winning the playoff weekend outright is the first they face, and we'll look at them now...

Guildford Flames
The EPL champions will come to Coventry confident that their powerful forward line, containing Lukas Smital (arguably the best forward outside the EIHL), along with Jozef Kohut, Milos Melicherik, the goals of Taras Foremsky and the grit and agitating ability of utility player Vaclav Zavoral will carry them to victory just as it did in the league season, even if one of the players has to sit out due to import rules. On defence, the cool heads of Paul Dixon and Neil Liddiard, the raw talent of young David Savage and the steady performances of Joe Watkins in net are the factors that have done the same. Bear in mind, though, that the Flames have several young Brits who can step in when needed, chief among them Ollie Bronnimann, who surely has an Elite contract in his future. If they can beat Slough, it's hard to look past the Flames as the safe bet for champions...

Predictions
First semi: Bracknell will just have too much for Sheffield, especially if Peter Slamiar's injury means he misses the game...
Second semi: Now this is a tough one to call. I'm going with Guildford, though-simply because, as a team, I think they're slightly better than Slough-a fact whic has been proven in the league season. Plus, having seen Lukas Smital and Taras Foremsky play, those two are game-winners by themselves when they're in the mood, as they certainly will be come playoff time...

Final: This'll be a titanic battle-Bees vs Flames, Kanka v Smital, Watkins v Rockman. Once again, I think the Flames just edge it, possibly in overtime, thanks to Smital and Foremsky being slightly better than Kanka and Peter Jasik when it comes to outwitting their respective defensive opponents. It really could go either way, though...

There's your Coventry preview-I may well pop along to at least the Sunday if I'm lucky enough can find the money...look for the tall, handsome (OK, maybe that's pushing it :)) guy in a Cologne Sharks or Blaze shirt settled in at the Zamboni end, or maybe, if I'm really lucky, the Windmill pub between games...

Good luck to all the teams at the weekend, and keep keeping your eye on the puck...