NIHL Week 6 Preview
Friday 18th October:
Week six starts with the rematch from last weekend as the Bristol Pitbulls travel down to Milton Keynes to face the Lightning. Last Sunday the game between these two teams was decided on penalties after ending 4-4 in regulation. But it would be MK who took the extra point. Bristol have a tough three-game weekend so will have to keep that in mind when going into this tough battle against the Lightning.
The Telford Tigers will be looking for their first away win as they travel up north to Sheffield to face the Steeldogs. Just like the Pitbulls the Tigers and Steeldogs also have three games this weekend and both teams will be looking to start the weekend off strong. However it won’t be easy for the Tigers as the Steeldogs welcome back Ivan Björkly Nordström to the lineup from injury. The Steeldogs lost at home last weekend to the Romford Raiders and will be looking to get back to winning ways at home whilst the Tigers will be desperate for points.
Saturday 19th October:
The Romford Raiders will face their biggest challenge yet as they welcome the Leeds Knights to the Sapphire. The Raiders are yet to lose at home this season and currently sit at the top of the table joint points with the Knights. Player coach Adam Laishram was out of the lineup last weekend so will be interesting to see if he returns. The Knights will be without their captain Kieran Brown as he got given a two game ban on Thursday for a check to the head incident last Sunday.
The Hull Seahawks will also look to maintain their 100% record at home as they host the Sheffield Steeldogs. The Seahawks will be without Emil Svec who faces a one game suspension from last Sunday. They will also be without Davey Phillips who is still serving his four game suspension. This will be the first matchup between the two sides since playing in the pre-season Yorkshire cup.
The Swindon Wildcats have yet another one game weekend at home against the Telford Tigers and will be looking to get two points like they did last weekend against the Phantoms. These two sides played in pre-season where the Wildcats took both wins but have yet to play each-other in the league. Tomasz Malasinski is coming off the back of scoring five points on his return last weekend.
The Bristol Pitbulls host the Berkshire Bees for the first time this season in what is set to be a big couple games for both sides in their bid to get a play off spot. The Pitbulls have come off the back of two penalty shot losses at home but they could be very important points come the end of the season. The Bees are coming off the back of a 7-2 loss away in Sheffield and haven’t won away since Telford three weeks ago. Will be the first time the two import goalies: Tommy Nappier and Max Wright will face off against each other this season. The Bees also welcome Harvey Stead back into the lineup as he steps in this weekend with the two way link with Streatham.
The final game on Saturday sees the Solway Sharks welcome the Peterborough Phantoms to Dumfries. The Sharks have gone through a tough patch losing their last four games but will be hoping to turn that around with a big home win. The Phantoms will be happy to have Luke Ferrara back in the team off the back of scoring four goals last Sunday. Also Austin Mitchell King made his return back into the lineup last Sunday after getting a minor injury. Nolan Gardiner will be looking to get back on the scoresheet after not scoring in his last three games.
Sunday 20th October:
The Steeldogs finish their three game weekend at home against the Solway Sharks. It was a comfortable win for the Steeldogs last Sunday up in Dumfries beating the Sharks 6-1 with Halfors scoring one of the goals of the season. However this will be the Sharks opportunity to try and capitalise on Sheffield having a three game weekend. The Sharks will see this as a must win game with one of the Bees or Pitbulls Guaranteed to drop points against each other.
The Leeds Knights welcome the MK Lightning to the Castle for the second time this season. Last time out the Knights comfortable beat the Lightning 7-3 without their Captain Kieran Brown. And they will have to try do that again without him as he misses this clash due to his suspension. This will be a huge game for both teams as they both look to solidify that top spot.
The Peterborough Phantoms will look to carry on their home form as they face the Romford Raiders. The Phantoms have won their last last four home games but did lose the last time these sides met but that was down in Romford, so the Phantoms will look to get their revenge. Ethan James will look to carry over his form after saving 93 shots last weekend in two games.
The Bees and Pitbulls face eachother for the second time in this back to back. Will be another great battle between the two import netminders who are coming off the back of brilliant games last weekend. The Bees have won their last two home games beating Leeds and Solway. They have really made their home a fortress the last two seasons and will be looking to do the same again this weekend.
The final game of the weekend sees the Telford Tigers play their third game of the weekend at home against the Hull Seahawks. It was a comfortable win last time these two sides met in Hull but the Tigers will not make it easy for them on Sunday knowing they need some more points on the board. However the Seahawks will look to capitalise on the Tigers tired legs.
Photo Credit - Drew Brown
