Short and Sweet Round the Rinks

Due to having a laptop that might fail at any minute, we're going simply to have a quick look at the weekend this time round...I know it's a bit depressingly short, but reference will be made to midweek, honest...

DOUBLE-HEADERS

Sheffield v Belfast: This could be another torrid weekend for the struggling Steelers-they're up against a Belfast side who won 4-0 in midweek, have the hottest scoring streak in the league right now in Jeff Szwez, and, by the way, have barely reached the potential their roster promised over the summer. The Steelers, meanwhile, are mired in recriminations, have dropping attendances and a siege mentality forming in the dressing room as players try and work out who's next to be cut.

But, saying all that, there's still a nagging little voice in the back of my mind...

Perfectly set up for an upset, really, isn't it?

Nottingham v Edinburgh: This pairing, meanwhile, could well see a split, as well as Edinburgh finally announcing their presence on the scene in similar emphatic fashion to their six-two win over Sheffield in midweek. After now being knocked off the top the Panthers need to keep momentum going-this weekend will not be taken lightly, otherwise the East Midland fanbase will be howling with protest almost as loudly as the Caps fans scream with joy...

SATURDAY

Newcastle v Coventry: Last time these two teams met, the Vipers took the Blaze for everything they had at the Skydome, playing a relentless grinding style which simply didn't give their skilful opponents any time to play. Up on Metro Radio ice, and garbed in their horrific Hallowe'en jerseys, they'll try and do the same. However, this is a different Blaze team to that of early October, and so the result is well and truly up for grabs...

Hull v Cardiff: More fireworks could be in prospect as a banged-up Stingrays side take on the streaking Devils for some Hallowe'en Havoc in Hull. With nothing to play for but pride, Hull coach Sylvain Cloutier has spoken of the Stingrays' need to get back to winning ways on their own ice, and this game, with Hull and Cardiff's simmering rivalry and the Devils flying high, would be a hell of a way to get that journey off the ground...

SUNDAY

Newcastle v Hull: These two teams meet for the first time this season in the North-East. Last season, this game wouldn't have merited more than a passing glance in the calendar, but with the Vipers clawing to stay near the top of the Elite League pile and the Stingrays trying to get off the bottom, it's a classic upstairs-downstairs battle...even if there'll be more graft than glitz on show.

Coventry v Cardiff: The friendliest heated rivalry in British hockey begins again at the Skydome, with Cardiff now a team to be seriously reckoned with. The Blaze, too, will have their own ideas as to how to dispose of a Devil that's outstayed its Hallowe'en freedom, and in front of two sets of passionate fans, no quarter will be given or asked for...Hallowe'en may be Saturday, but be prepared for a thriller nevertheless..

There you go..one weekend previewed...