And so we're back from Finland, having not actually seen any live hockey thanks to being in Estonia on the day HIFK played at home (well, unless you count a barn-burner of a game between Leksands and Boras in the Allsvenskan, which was showing on the satellite of the sports bar we frequented on Sunday night, and for which I annoyed the rest of my group who were watching the Arsenal-Chelsea game)-and we return to the sobering news that Dave Matsos' son George has been taken into hospital with pneumonia. Obviously, the Breakaway sends its best wishes to both George himself and the Sheffield coach, and hopes that the little one pulls through with no ill-effects...
But, there is still a weekend of hockey to get through...and here's what's coming up in the Elite League...
Belfast v Edinburgh: The first of three games in three nights for the Capitals sees them travel to Northern Ireland in the very real hope of being one of the few teams to take points from the Odyssey...the game is of course available on www.giantslive.tv for those of you who wish to watch-and it'll be worth a look with the offensive talent on show on both sides...
DOUBLE HEADERS
Coventry v Nottingham: Outside of a few loud-voiced PR men in South Yorkshire, and perhaps despite the protestations of Panthers fans desperate to keep tradition alive, this East v West Midlands meeting is now viewed as the biggest derby game in EIHL hockey (and, by Simms and Moran logic, thus the biggest derby in the universe). There has fast evolved a sense of genuine hatred between the Blaze and Panthers over the past few seasons, and the atmosphere is always, shall we say, "heated" when these two teams meet. As the Blaze PR for this weekend puts it..."we don't like them, and they don't like us". Certainly, for fans of either team, making a trip to the other's rink, or even the other's city, is no longer just a simple away day. Now, more than anything else, it's a trip behind enemy lines...
And this weekend, it's a double-header. That means twice the aggravation, twice the dislike, and twice the opportunity for controversy.
Bring it on. And may the best team win. As long as that team is from the West Midlands. :)
SATURDAY
Hull v Sheffield: The Yorkshire derby, meanwhile, sees two teams near the bottom of the league fighting it out for bragging rights. With Hull slowly getting back on track, this result is by no means a foregone conclusion either way...
Newcastle v Belfast: Two more teams who share a healthy dislike for each other meet in Whitley Bay, with the Giants hoping to take advantage of the Vipers' unfamiliar nettie in Kevin Reiter, and the Vipers hoping he'll pull off some of the same magic which got him noticed in Basingstoke last season. This game will see speed meet grit, and we'll see which comes out on top...
Cardiff v Edinburgh: Two of the surprise teams battle again, with the Devils hoping to keep up the pressure at the top and the Caps to give themselves another two out of a possible six points they can earn this weekend. It won't be easy in the Tent By the Bay, though...
SUNDAY
Edinburgh v Hull: Finally, the Caps return home to finish off a marathon weekend, with arguably the easiest of their three games-the Stingrays, however, coming off a Yorkshire battle the night before, will be well-placed to take advantage of any tired legs, and for that reason alone are worth taking seriously...
Sheffield v Newcastle: Final game of the weekend to be previewed, this battle at the Hallam sees the two teams in the reverse of their positions last season-and a win for the Vipers will not be well received by the South Yorkshire faithful. However, it'll widen the gap between Newcastle and the bottom three-and make for yet more optimism up north...
There's your weekend preview...keep keeping your eye on the puck...
