Once again British ice hockey’s biggest rivalry is back for the fourth time this season as Nottingham Panthers take on Sheffield Steelers.
Steelers are looking to build on the dominant 5-0 win over the Manchester Storm last Sunday on home ice.
Panthers are hoping to capitalise on their impressive 6-game winning streak, which includes a 4-3 overtime win against the Steelers last Saturday in the return fixture at the Motorpoint.
This game however is in the Utilita Arena in Sheffield, a typically rough patch of ice for the Panthers, having won just four of the last 16 visits in all competitions to the Steelers, however the most recent visit to the arena was a 4-2 win for the Panthers in the Challenge Cup back in October.
Before Nottingham’s game against the Glasgow Clan this evening at the Motorpoint, this fixture sits as a top of the table clash between the two rivals, adding some more heat to the game.
Players to watch for steelers is of course Matt Greenfield, who kept a shutout last time against the Storm, the first one all season for the netminder. Furthermore, Greenfield ties only legendary Ben Bowns for EIHL Netminder of the Year with 3 wins, winning the award for the last 3 years.
In addition to this, Steelers will no doubt be hoping for the leagues joint top scorer Mitchell Balmas to create some chances, he currently sits at 10 goals and nine assists to make him the leagues top point scorer as well.
He however is tied with Nottingham’s Mitchell Fossier at 10 goals, pending this evenings result, hoping to bounce back from not registering a single point against Dundee Stars in a 4-3 victory away from home.
Another player to watch out for for the Panthers is Canadian Ross Armour, who scored the all of the Panthers 3 open play goals last week against the Steelers, netting a hattrick across the 3 periods.
