Important Week A Head

[Rich]

Tonight Blaze have the opportunity to move 6 points clear at the top of the Elite League if as expected we can see off Hull Stingrays.

Then tommorow Nottingham Panthers play Cardiff Devils in Group B of the Challenge Cup a game that may play a major role in deciding whether or not Blaze get through to the semi final. Should either side win it would mean that the losing team would not be able to catch Blaze in the group, however if the game was to end in a draw both teams would still be in with a chance of catching Blaze on points along with Basingstoke and Hull also far from out of the running.

Following that we have the weekend with Blaze playing away in Sheffield Saturday night against Sheffield Steelers, the side that a long with Giants currently look like our closest challengers. A win for Steelers and they close the gap to just 4 points (presuming we win tonight) and will have two games in hand, along with two wins against Blaze in the league this season giving them the head to head advantage. A win for Blaze and the table will be that little bit more in our favour.

Finnally Sunday night, basement club Basingstoke are in town, a side that will surely believe (with Edinburgh being so bad) that they could be doing better than they are. They're bound to be up for it and so will the Blaze as its their last game before heading into European battle.

All prety exciting stuff.

[Graeme]

We won

Cardiff lost >:\

Need Basingstoke to pull out the stops next Saturday - would much rather we play them than the panthers - at least they had a bit of character last season.

I'm not worried about us playing Nottingham - it's just the lousy atmosphere hanging around Blaze-Panthers games these days.

[Claret & Blue Army]

Maybe we should have a moan about the antics of the Panthers fans on the Friday before the match just to throw them off kilter

[Dave]

I think the atmosphere may be better now based on the recent coach banter between the best coach in the world, Paul Thompson and the coach of the Hollywood Panthers Corey Neilson.

[Rich]

So far everythings going good. Am I right in thinking that we are through to the semi finals of the Challenge Cup now due to the seperater between teams level on points being head to head?

Tonight's game will be the toughest for a while.