10th/11th October Weekend Preview

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Saturday 10th October: Nottingham Panthers (1st) v Excel Hull Stingrys (7th) @ National Ice Centre, F/O 7pm (Challenge Cup and Elite League)
Sunday 11th October: Excel Hull Stingrays (7th) v Sheffield Steelers (6th) @ Hull Arena, F/O 6pm

Form
Stingrays
Nottingham
Sheffield

Last 3 Meetings
v Nottingham
01/03/09 6-4 W H
30/08/09 4-3 W H
29/09/09 2-4 L H

v Sheffield
03/01/08 3-4 OTL A
17/01/09 0-4 L H
22/02/09 2-4 L A

Season Series
v Nottingham: 0-1, 2 GF, 4 GA
v Sheffield: First Meeting

Players to Watch
Stingrays: Stephen Burns (9 GP 1+1) The defenceman, who has had a tough induction to Elite League hockey, scored his first goal in European hockey last weekend in the win over Edinburgh and followed that up with a goal in Hocktoberfest in the Rays heavy loss to Sheffield. His solid play has steadily improved in the past few weeks, however, despite the loss of Ryan Jorde, that form will have to continue for the Canadian to justify his place on the Stingrays blueline after the signing of James Sanford.

Nottingham: Kevin Bergin (6 GP 3+2) After returning from injury last weekend, tough forward Bergin recorded a Gordie Howe hat-trick with two goals, an assist and a fight in one of his first games back against Belfast. However, there remains a question mark over the true fitness of the French-Canadian after he missed out on the Panthers embarrassing 6-0 loss at the hands of the Coventry Blaze in the Hocktoberfest quarter finals.

Sheffield: Kevin Bolibruck (8GP 0+3) More is expected of the experienced defenceman, who has had a challenging start to his second stint in South Yorkshire. He has been an early favourite to be released by coach Dave Matsos, after some poor early form, however, he improved to showed glimpses of what he can do in the Steelers Hocktoberfest victory on Sunday.

Between the Pipes
Stingrays: Tommy Sandahl (9GP 90.8 sv% 4.13 GAA) The Swede followed up a good performance on Saturday against the Caps with a somewhat questionable one in Hocktoberfest. Although extra pressure was plied on the Elite League's netminders, due to the tournaments reduced four-on-four action, he let through one or two soft goals against the Steelers in the 5-1 loss in the quarters.

Nottingham: Kevin St-Pierre (10GP 92.8sv% 2.2 GAA) Has yet to be found out in Elite League action like many of his predecessors were. Helped by a solid defence, led mainly by summer acquisition Dominic D'Armour, the netminder has led the Panthers to the top of the league table with relative ease.

Sheffield: Andrew Verner (Debut weekend) The top quality netminder will be making his second Elite League debut in two seasons this weekend. After pricing himself out of a return to Newcastle in the summer, Verner failed to find a club on the continent. Thankfully for him Kevin Reiter's unlucky long-term injury has put an end to his extended summer.

Absentees
Stingrays: Ryan Jorde (released), Lee Mitchell (doubt; knee)
Nottingham: Full Strength
Sheffield: Kevin Reiter (sports hernia), Scott Basiuk (doubt; shoulder), Jeff Hutchins (concussion)

Predictions
Nottingham 5-3 Stingrays
Stingrays 4-5 Sheffield