The Elite League title race already has all of the indicators of a traditional. The highest three groups are separated by solely a handful of factors, the league’s most in-form forwards are driving their sides in the direction of competition, and an important head-to-head conflict on the finish of November might reshape the desk fully – the sort of drama that at all times attracts consideration from followers and Virgin Bet alike.
With momentum swinging week by week, right here’s a full have a look at the place issues stand, what the subsequent fixtures imply, and who’s almost certainly to carry the regular-season championship.
Present standings
Sheffield Steelers at present sit prime of the standings with 26 factors, however their place is way from safe. Nottingham Panthers sit only one level behind on 25 and maintain a sport in hand, giving them a mathematical benefit in the event that they proceed their sturdy run.
The Panthers have regarded organised, assured and constant, placing collectively one of many league’s most balanced data of 11 wins (together with one additional time win) and 4 losses (three of which have been OT) on the time of writing. The Steelers have additionally been disciplined not too long ago, dominating video games with stable construction and powerful assault. They at present have 12 wins (4 OT) and 4 losses (two OT).
The current conferences between the Sheffield Steelers and Nottingham Panthers present simply how finely balanced this title race is. On 29 November, the Steelers edged a 3–2 win in additional time, a decent, high-pressure sport that swung forwards and backwards earlier than Sheffield discovered the breakthrough. However solely every week earlier, it was the Panthers who got here out on prime, beating the Steelers 4–3 in a shootout — their first shootout win of the season.
Cardiff Devils stay the outsiders on this race, however they’ve remained regular all through the season, with large wins together with an 8-2 victory over bottom-of-the-table Fife Flyers. They’re inside hanging distance of the highest two, simply three factors behind the Panthers, and in a league the place standings can rapidly shift, the Devils could pounce if the highest two falter.
Staff and participant stats
On the subject of particular person affect, nobody has an even bigger contribution than Steelers ahead Mitchell Balmas, who leads the league’s particular person factors with 20, from 10 targets and 10 assists. Panthers ahead Ross Armour is matching Balmas within the goal-scoring division with 10 targets of his personal. In the meantime, his teammate Mitchel Fossier sits fourth in factors total with 17 (9 targets and eight assists).
Staff stats inform an identical story: The Panthers boast the league’s highest goals-per-game common at 4.07, displaying how harmful they’re going ahead, whereas the Steelers stability issues out with the tightest defence within the league, permitting simply two targets per sport on common.
And on the different finish of the ice, Cardiff have the standout particular person performer in internet — Ben Bowns, who leads all goaltenders with a outstanding save share of 95.05 % and a league-best 1.41 targets towards common.
Collectively, these numbers spotlight how every title contender brings a distinct power into the race: Nottingham with attacking firepower, Sheffield with defensive self-discipline, and Cardiff with elite goaltending.
Who will win?
Proper now, the Panthers look to have a slight edge. They’re solely a degree behind the Steelers, they’ve a sport in hand, and so they’re scoring greater than every other staff. The Steelers are nonetheless sturdy contenders due to their league-best defence and Balmas’ scoring type, whereas the Devils stay within the combine due to Ben Bowns’ excellent goalkeeping. However with the standings this tight, one good or dangerous weekend might utterly change the image.
