NIHL Week 11 Preview
Saturday 23rd November:
The first game of the weekend sees the Swindon Wildcats take on the Sheffield Steeldogs in the Cats first of their two northern battles this weekend. The Steeldogs beat the Cats at the start of the season at the Link Centre but Nell and Malasinski are back in the lineup since then. Sam Tremblay is coming off the back of playing for the Steelers in their CHL game in Germany.
Next up is a big play off position battle between the Telford Tigers and Solway Sharks. Both teams just came off the back of securing four point weekends! Also both teams winning in overtime last weekend with the imports getting the job done. Henderson and Thomson come into this game currently on 33 points combined in just 9 games!
We then have another big battle as the Bristol Pitbulls host the Berkshire Bees. The Bees coming off the back of a huge 3-2 penalty shootout victory over the Swindon Wildcats where Max Wright made 59 saves! However the Pitbulls have been much improved at home, picking up a few wins against the Sharks and Tigers. It will be a great battle between the import netties.
The Peterborough Phantoms host the Romford Raiders for the second time this season with just one point currently between them. The Phantoms have won their last nine games at home and will be looking to make it double figures. Cam Hough is also coming off the back of scoring a hat-trick in their 6-4 win over the Leeds Knights which sees him at number one Goalscorer in the league.
The final game on Saturday is the big one between the top two. The MK Lightning host the Leeds Knights. Both teams coming off the back of defeats last Sunday. Just one point separating the teams, with the Lightning actually winning the last meeting between the two on penalty shots in Leeds. This will be the first meeting in MK and the Knights failed to beat them in their barn last season so will look to turn that around this season.
Sunday 24th November:
The Romford Raiders host the Solway Sharks at the Sapphire for the first time this season. The Sharks are coming off the back of a huge away victory in Hull last weekend but the Raiders have been very strong at home. They have only lost two games all season at home but did drop a 6-3 loss to the Tigers last Saturday.
The Leeds Knights will look for revenge over the Peterborough Phantoms back at home. The Knights have only lost one game this season which was on penalty shots. Captain Kieran Brown is currently on a three game Hat-trick streak with 10 goals in 3 games! The Phantoms have had success in games against the Knights and will no doubt put up a great fight.
The Hull Seahawks will look to get back to winning ways after dropping their last two home games. But they will have to do so against the Swindon Wildcats who defeated them at the Link Centre two weeks ago in overtime. Matty Davies has bolstered by bringing in young talent Tommy Spraggon. This will be the second of a back-to-back away weekend for the Cats.
The Telford Tigers host the Sheffield Steeldogs and will look to make it two wins out of two against the Dogs after winning in overtime last month. Ulrick and Ripley are also being called up to the Steelers team meaning the Dogs will have to change it up without them.
The final game of the weekend sees the Berkshire Bees host the MK Lightning. The Lightning will look to make it three wins against the Bees after beating them twice already this season. But the Bees will try go into this game with a lot of confidence after taking down the Wildcat at home last weekend.
Photo Credit: Lewis Moran Photography
