Flyers in the firing line of hurting Steelers

Ryan Finnerty’s team suffered their second 5-1 defeat of the Elite League season at arch-rivals Nottingham Panthers on Saturday as their hectic schedule of five games in eight days seemingly caught up with them.

Life will not be slowing down for the defending champions this week, however, with four games in six days scheduled. Despite the considerable impact on his players’ bodies in recent days, player-coach Finnerty refused to use it as an excuse for a fourth league defeat of the season to the Panthers.

“I know we have played a lot of hockey recently and I don’t need reminding that this was our fifth game in eight days,” said Finnerty. “But there was no excuse for what happened on Saturday, we were second-best in every department.

“We had chances but didn’t take them, we panicked on the powerplay and weren’t patient at all, wasting many chances.

“I know we are a lot better side than what we showed.”

Jonathan Phillips had given Steelers an early lead but goals from David Clarke, Rhett Gordon and Brock Wilson saw the Panthers enjoy a 3-1 first period lead.

David-Alexandre Beauregard made it 4-1 at 31.31 with Clarke grabbing his second eight minutes later.

As a result of the weekend’s action, Steelers remain second, nine points behind leaders Belfast Giants but with five games in hand.

The top two still have to play each other three more times before the end of the season.

Hull Stingrays went down 5-3 at home to Cardiff Devils on Sunday night, but still look well-placed to make the end-of-season play-offs as their rivals below struggle to close the gap.

Cardiff were 3-0 ahead by the 38th minute through Stuart Macrae (2) and Jeff Pierce before Stingrays player-coach Sylvain Cloutier hit back at 38.57.

Jason Silverthorn made it a one-goal game at 48.32, but Cardiff made the points safe with further goals from Gerad Adams andBen Davies, with Silverthorn grabbing a late consolation

Cloutier, who was without the services of Ryan Lake, Martin Ondrej and Matty Davies through injury, as well as missing top goalscorer Jereme Tendler (suspensed), admitted his short-benched team tired towards the end of the game.

“Considering we were short I thought we played well,” said Cloutier. “You can tell with some of the goals they got we were just tired, they were mental mistakes.

“We had some chances, but when you play two centres for two games in a row and when you only have eight guys up front and one of those is a 16-year-old kid with not a lot of experience, there is only so much you can do.”

In the English Premier League, Sheffield Steeldogs kept up the pressure on the teams above them after a 3-2 win in overtime at Bracknell Bees.

With 11 games remaining, leaders Guildford Flames remain 10 points clear at the top after their 9-1 win at home to Swindon Wildcats.

Second-placed Manchester Phoenix won 5-2 at fading Milton Keynes Lightning to remain two points ahead of third-placed Slough Jets, who picked up wins against Peterborough and Telford to just stay ahead of Andre Payette’s Steeldogs on goal difference.

RESULTS

Elite League – Sunday: Coventry Blaze 4 Braehead Clan 6, Edinburgh Capitals 0 Nottingham Panthers 9, Hull Stingrays 3 Cardiff Devils 5.

Saturday: Belfast Giants 7 Fife Flyers 1, Braehead Clan 4 Coventry Blaze 3, Edinburgh Capitals 3 Dundee Stars 6, Nottingham Panthers 5 Sheffield Steelers 1.

English Premier League - Sunday: Manchester Phoenix 5 Milton Keynes Lightning 2, Peterborough Phantoms 6 Basingstoke Bison 7, Telford Tigers 1 Slough Jets 5, Bracknell Bees 2 Sheffield Steeldogs 3 (OT), Guildford Flames 9 Swindon Wildcats 1.

Saturday: Basingstoke Bison 3 Bracknell Bees 1, Slough Jets 5 Peterborough Phantoms 4, Milton Keynes Lightning 6 Swindon Wildcats 3.

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