The Christmas period sees the NIHL South move into the second half of the season with the “big four” sitting, as expected, in the top four places. With the table still tough to make sense of due to the different numbers of games played, here’s how it would look if all four sides played and won their games in hand – which of course isn’t possible as they play each other in the coming weeks – but you get my point ……
Here’s how the key fixtures over the next two weeks line up ………
Saturday 22nd December
Swindon Wildcats v Bracknell Bees
With five defeats in their last seven games, its fair to say that Wildcats are having their annual major mid-term meltdown right now and back to back fixtures with Bracknell Bees will not be what the doctor ordered in terms of bouncing out of it. Both of their match-ups this season have gone to overtime with each side finding the winning goal so both of these fixtures could go down to the wire. Bees will be giving a debut to their new import signing, former ECHL and Nottingham Panther forward Tyler Van Kleef which may tilt the advantage their way.
What do we want ……… BRACKNELL WIN
Basingstoke Bison v Invicta Dynamos
Should be an easy two points for Bison even if they did only stumble to a 5-3 win last time they met in Basingstoke.
What do we want ……… INVICTA WIN
Sunday 23rd December
Romford Raiders v Basingstoke Bison
Awkward game for Bison with Raiders rolling along on a five game winning streak which may be six games by the time they meet ….. then again, Bison have their own hot-streak at six wins from seven so this is a clash of the two form teams aside from Phantoms. Last time they met in Romford, Bison won by a single goal but, more recently, they found themselves 1-5 down at home to Romford before a crazy five late goals turned it around so anybody’s guess where this one might go !
What do we want ……… ROMFORD WIN
Bracknell Bees v Swindon Wildcats
See above !
What do we want ……… BRACKNELL WIN
Friday December 28th
Basingstoke Bison v Swindon Wildcats
The good news for Phantoms is that they can’t both win but we certainly won’t want an OT win where both sides collect points …… and the last match-up in Basingstoke did go Bison’s way on penalty shots. As for who we will want to win, that will depend on the results in the games above which may well leave us rooting for Swindon !
What do we want ……… SWINDON WIN
Saturday 29th December
Swindon Wildcats v Phantoms
Whatever happens in the games above, Swindon will see this as a must win game and if results haven’t gone well for them then that will magnify the pressure still further. Phantoms should be well rested and full of confidence for this one so dare to be confident !
What do we want ……… PHANTOMS WIN
Sunday 30th December
Phantoms v Basingstoke Bison
The significance of this one will depend much on the results above. If Bison are still on a roll then this will be an early title four-pointer but if they’ve slipped up then it will be a chance to hammer a nail in the coffin of their title aspirations.
What do we want ……… PHANTOMS WIN