FRIDAY:
Belfast v Newcastle: With Sean McMorrow hopefully well and truly recovered from his encounter with a Renault Twingo, the Giants take on the Vipers in a tricky tie for them which will, naturally, be available on www.giantslive.tv for those who wish to watch. With Jeff Szwez chomping at the bit to continue his scoring exploits, the Giants look more and more dangerous-although if any team can stifle high-powered offence, the Vipers could be that team judging on recent form, particularly with Sheffield's on-loan Kevin Reiter looking to prove a point in net...
SATURDAY
Cardiff v Coventry: Ryan Finnerty is the Devils' latest signing, but it's unclear whether he'll be in the country to make his debut alongside his great friend* Jay Latulippe at the weekend. This top-four clash is one to make the mouth water a little though, particularly with both teams on form.
*(irony may or may not being used here)
Newcastle v Nottingham: Aristocrats vs upwardly-mobile in the North East, as the Panthers look to get back to winning ways after their derby loss last Sunday undid all the good work from Saturday. Newcastle, meanwhile, are coming off a road trip from hell in the trip to Belfast, so tiredness could be a factor in the Panthers' win. So could Johan Molin, who returns in a brief cameo this weekend deputising once again for Kevin Bergin. However, in the Vipers' favour they are playing in Whitley Bay, the fine old North East barn which they've turned into something of a fortress this season...
Edinburgh v Sheffield: Both teams will fancy their chances in this one-the Capitals playing the first of a double-header home weekend at a rink which they, too, have turned into something of an intimidating place to visit this season after a few seasons of troubles, while the Steelers need this win in order to claw back some ground on the teams above them, of whom, coincidentally, the Caps are the nearest, above them only on whatever arcane system the EIHL is using this season to seperate teams on equal points.
SUNDAY
Edinburgh v Belfast: Scotland plays Northern Ireland in the second game of the weekend at Murrayfield, and the second game to be covered live on the Caps Webcast, accessible via www.edinburgh-capitals.com for the princely sum of £6 for both games. The last meeting between these two saw a crushing victory for the Giants, but over the Scottish border, the rules are a bit different. If the Caps can conquer their own self-doubt and grab an early lead, then things could be interesting here...
Coventry v Sheffield: This is not a match in which you can expect to see any quarter given or asked, nor is it one that traditionally would be described as involving a "struggling" team. But as we know, that's still, technically, what the Steelers are, while the Blaze are, at least as the weekend begins, top of the EIHL. You can smell the burning from the Steelers' wounded pride from here...they will be up for this one. Unfortunately, so will the home side, backed by a big crowd...this may not reach the heights of last Sunday's game, but it could be another warm winter Sunday at the Skydome nevertheless.
Nottingham v Hull: The Panthers return home with arguably the easiest game on paper of the weekend, against a Stingrays side who are struggling heroically to win away and have just released James Sanford from their defence. If the Stingrays pull off a shock here, then not only will there be joy in the rest of the league but howls of anger from the NIC stands. This is not a game Corey Neilson's men will entertain any fear of losing-anything less then a win is simply not an option if you're of a black-and-gold persuasion...
There you go-there's your weekend previewed...
