WEEK 28 of the 2023/24 Elite Ice Hockey League season and the Flyers get the Easter Weekend off to an early start with a return to their traditional game night in their early years when they host the Nottingham Panthers on Thursday evening before welcoming the Guildford Flames to the Auld Barn with important playoff points on the line.
THURSDAY MARCH 28th v NOTTINGHAM PANTHERS @ FIFE ICE ARENA – FACE OFF 7.30pm
Recent Form Guide
This is the final meeting of the two sides in the regular season for this campaign and both teams have play off aspirations very much in mind. The last meeting with the Panthers was only just over two weeks ago when the Flyers travelled to the Motorpoint and returned with a huge two points. The Panthers were on their travels next with a visit to the Dundee Stars where they crashed 7-4 before getting a point from the Champion elect Sheffield Steelers at the Utilita Arena after a 3-2 shootout loss. Last weekend the Panthers hosted Sheffield who had been denied a title win the previous midweek, the Steelers won 4-2 to put them on the verge of being crowned Champions. The Panthers then travelled to Cardiff on Sunday night and stayed with the Devils to tie the game 6-6 at the end of regulation before losing in a shootout. Following tonight’s game the Panthers have four games remaining as they meet the Coventry Blaze and Glasgow Clan at home over the Easter weekend. They wrap up their regular season with two game against the Manchester Storm with a Saturday meeting in Altrincham before closing out at the Motorpoint Arena on the Sunday.
Last League Visit from Panthers
Overall Elite League Home Record Against Panthers
P 29 W 13 L 16 F 97 A 108
Number Crunching
The Flyers record in ascending chronological order in the last six meetings with the Panthers at Kirkcaldy is L-W-L-W-L-W.
The Panthers have won 3 of the 5 meetings between the teams this season but the Flyers have won 5 of 6 points in the last three games.
The Flyers are aiming to make it five wins on the bounce which would be a season best for them. Only the Manchester Storm have a better active record with five wins.
The Panthers come to Kirkcaldy on a six game losing skid, the worst current record of all teams, the Panthers and Flyers share the longest winless streaks this season at 8 games.
The Flyers top goal scorer against the Panthers this term in all EIHL competitions is Troy Lajeunesse who has five goals. Flyers have had eleven different scorers of their 19 goals scored. The Panthers top marksmen each with three goals also are Hugo Roy and Otto Nieminen and the Panthers have twelve different scorers of their 19 goals.
Across all EIHL competitions this season Flyers have scored an average of 3.05 goals per game with 3.02 being the Panthers average. Nottingham have conceded an average of 3.94 goals per game with the Flyers averaging 3.72.
SATURDAY MARCH 30th v GUILDFORD FLAMES @ FIFE ICE ARENA – FACE OFF 7.15pm
Recent Form Guide
This is the final meeting of the regular season between the Flyers and Flames who last met in mid-February as the Flyers returned with both points from the game in Surrey. That defeat kick started a a season high run of seven without a win for the Flames who were next shutout in Sheffield, the 4th time they have been held goalless this season in all EIHL competitions. A narrow one goal defeat in Coventry was followed the next night by a 4-2 reverse by the Steelers at the Spectrum. The following midweek the Flames picked up a point in Glasgow in a 3-2 shootout loss and were then defeated 4-1 by the Storm in Manchester. Another shootout defeat this time to the Devils at home continued the winless run which was then snapped in Cardiff as the Flames this time came out on top in the shootout in a wild 6-5 game. A pair of games against the Nottingham Panthers saw the Flames win at home 4-1 but then were spanked 6-1 at the Motorpoint Arena. Another shootout loss this time in Manchester was the prelude to their Challenge Cup Final appearance against the Steelers in Sheffield. The Flames were unable to topple the Steelers who defended a 3-1 lead from midway through the game. Flames moved on to Belfast for a weekend double header against the Giants in Belfast with both games ending in 3-1 wins for the home side. The following midweek the Flames travelled to Tayside and avoided equalling their longest winless streak of 7 games for the season with a 3-2 win. Last weekend the Flames came up with a big 7-1 home ice win against the Glasgow Clan before they travelled to meet Sheffield trying to be party spoilers, the Steelers would not be denied their Championship clinching celebrations as they won 7-3. The Flames are in a battle with the Manchester Storm for 4th place to be seeded in the playoff quarter finals. Flames have a win% of 0.48 since 1st January as they have collected 25 points from their 26 games played with 9 wins, 11 regulation losses and 5 OT/SO losses. The Flyers in that same period have a 0.61 win% taking 28 points from their 23 games which includes 10 wins, 5 regulation losses and 8 losses in OT/SO.
Last League Visit from Flames
Overall Elite League Home Record Against Flames
P 16 W 7 L 9 F 46 A 48
Number Crunching
The Flames have won 3 of the 5 meetings with the Flyers this season in the league and also have two wins in the Challenge Cup.
The Flames remain the only active team not to have a hattrick scorer against the Flyers in all EIHL competitions.
The Flames are also the only active EIHL team that the Flyers have not lost a shootout against.
The Flames are the only team to not have scored a short-handed goal this season.
The Flyers top goal scorer against the Flames this term in all EIHL competitions is Max Humitz with three goals. Flyers have had ten different scorers of their 13 goals scored. The Flames top marksman with four goals is Peter Crinella and the Flames have eleven scorers of their 18 goals.
Across all EIHL competitions this season Flyers have scored an average of 3.05 goals per game with 2.88 being the Flames average. Guildford have conceded an average of 2.98 goals per game with the Flyers averaging 3.72.
