GAME THREAD: Giants v Steelers: Fri 16th Jan

[mark]

Game 1 of 2. Title decider double header part 1, maybe not for Belfast but certainly for us.

[smbmetal]

Biggest weekend and games of the season.

I think we need to win both in regulation to still have a chance to win the League. Lose them both in regulation or OT and we're potentially 8 to 10 points behind.

Nottingham have got the Continental Cup distraction this week and weekend and even though it's hosted in Nottingham, it always has the potential to de-rail your season if you pick up injuries etc.

Hopefully Brett Richie will hit the ground running. Let's get Tansey back on D as well as I think we are far better defensively with him in his proper position.

I can see a split weekend here as the likely outcome.

Greenfield to play in both games.

I'm going to be optimistic and go with a Steelers win here 3-2.

I'll predict the second game after I've watched this one. I'm guessing it's still Mr Kitchen on commentary on the stream? I can hear him even when the tv's on mute

[greeny]

To me this is the title defining w/end,,,at moment we are hanging in there by our fingertips, win these games with new player in and we are back in it, if losses then we are looking at trying for some small silverware. It is a very big ask as for me belfast are the team ive been most impressed with, as always they are very well organised and daft as it sounds i was impressed with them when we beat them 4-1 in sheffield, they had something about them which you could tell they would be a good team once they settled down,,,,, and for me greener plays as many games as he is happy to do,,,

[lovedenisvial]

Can't see anything better than a split weekend! if we don't come to play ie Glasgow and Fife we loose heavily in both! Might surprise the Giants who will expect us to turn-over so that is our opportunity!! we live in hope!

[MLL79]

I think as I last looked Belfast had 3 games in hand over us, so if they capitalise on these they’d be 6points in front of us.

Looking at the fixtures (which I seem to have become obsessed with lately ), including this weekend, we have 5 games to play against Belfast, so a potential 10 direct points advantage/disadvantage overall left to play for. So the above gap can in theory be more than closed.

There are obviously tons of other variables, and none of this considers Nott or Car, but for me - lose more than one game against Belfast and we’re pretty much runners up to them wherever anyone else lands. Unless of course Belfast blow it elsewhere lol

[Doom]

What's that old saying about not being able to win the league in October, but you can lose it. I think this is fairly appropriate to us right now, but refers to the Belfast weekend.

Win both games and we're just about clinging on in the title race. Drop a point and I reckon it's over for us.

I really don't fancy our chances though, because it will be difficult to win without the puck. Belfast are the best in the league at faceoffs and we're hopeless, so you can see how that's likely to go.

Let's hope our NHL guy can make a difference. A Scott Levins type debut would be nice.

Regards

Doom

[Rendo]

So who's going to be the healthy scratch tonight?

[smbmetal]

According to the gamesheet there’s no Dowd tonight.

https://eihlhq.co.uk/pdf/print/de-html/4237

We also have one extra player than Belfast. They can’t quite make 4 forward lines.

[Bryan]

I agree with Doom. I just can’t see us having enough puck to win either game. Losing Dowd makes this even worse as he is our best faceoff taker.

[mark]

GOAAAAAALLLLLL STEELERS

0-1
Mitchell Balmas
(Jasper)
06:27