2nd/3rd January 2010 Weekend Preview

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Saturday 2nd January: Nottingham Panthers (2nd) v Excel Hull Stingrays (8th) @ Trent FM Arena, F/O 7pm
Sunday 3rd January: Excel Hull Stingrays (8th) v Newcastle Vipers (5th) @ Hull Arena, F/O 6pm

Form
Stingrays: L W W W L
Nottingham: W L W W W
Newcastle: L L W L L

Last 3 Meetings
v Nottingham
10/10/09 3-2 OTL A
13/12/09 4-3 SOL A
20/12/09 5-4 W H

v Newcastle
25/01/09 4-2 W H
07/02/09 2-1 W H
01/11/09 2-1 L A

Season Series
v Nottingham: 1-3, 4 points, 13 GF, 14 GA
v Newcastle: 0-1, 0 points, 1 GF, 2 GA

Players to Watch
Stingrays: George Halkidis (20GP 3+6 10PIM) The Canadian defenceman has points in his last three games, including a crucial goal in the Stingrays 5-3 triumph over Edinburgh last weekend. Since he joined the team he has become a calming influence at the back, gradually helping to reduce the number of sloppy goals that the Rays concede.

Nottingham: Cameron Mann (31GP 19+13 46PIM) After having to endure some frustrating early form in the Elite League, the former NHLer seems to have now hit peak form. With nine goals in eight games, including a hat-trick in the Panthers comprehensive 5-0 win over Cardiff last weekend, he is now starting to show some of the class that had him rated in pre-season as a player capable of dominating this league.

Newcastle: Jason Tejchma (37GP 18+13 16PIM) Tejchma lead the way for the Vipers in the early part of the season as the Tyneside club streaked towards the top of the league. The second quarter of the season has not been quite so kind to them, but with Tejchma on form, with a goal and two assists in the Vipers last three, they could yet surprise the top four.

Between the Pipes
Stingrays: Tommy Sandahl (33GP 4.25GAA 89.6sv.%)
Nottingham: Kevin St-Pierre (36GP 2.91GAA 91.9sv.%)
Newcastle: Kevin Reiter (10GP 3.43GAA 89.6sv.%)

Absentees
Stingrays: Sylvain Cloutier (knee), James Hutchinson (hand)
Nottingham: Full Strength
Newcastle: Full Strength

Predictions
Nottingham 4-2 Stingrays
Stingrays 3-2 Newcastle