Game seven fever tonight, and oh what a night it is as three game 7's now take place!

Round one of the NHL playoffs comes to a climax tonight before round two tomorrow and tonight is huge! Last night, Philadelphia Flyers kept there hopes alive beating New York Rangers 5-2, forcing a game seven tonight. Midnight faceoff in UK time. Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild play there final game in what has been an amazing series, so it's no surprise that it shall go down to the wire! Faceoff is 2:30am UK time.

But, the biggest one of the lot, which we probably didn't think would happen five days ago, is the Kings-Sharks series. Sharks had a 3-0 series lead which looked to have sealed it, but Kings shocked three games with wins taking it to a do-or-die last match! 3:00am UK time

Kings force game 7 and Flyers can repeat that tonight!

The Los Angeles Kings looked dead and buried when game 3 was over against the San Jose Sharks. But a new style from Kings made the team rise to the challenge and forced game 7! Only nine teams have done this in NHL history so Kings could take it to double digits of 10 teams. A quick span of goals in the third assured this, despite one causing havoc over whether it was actually covered before being tapped in but was given anyway! Kings came out 4-1 winners and force a massive game seven! 

Another big story, Pittsburgh Penguins qualified for round two in game 6(fun fact, 5 of the 6 games ended 4-3 and all 6 involved 3-1 leads at some point!)Heres last nights scores: 

Theres only one game tonight that is vital because New York Rangers can qualify but if Philly Flyers win, tomorrow is game seven! Enjoy folks! 😉

 

GB come fourth in World Championships, miss out on medal..

Team GBs World Championship dream came to an end on Saturday but we are all proud of the boys for their efforts! They beat champions Poland 4-2 after possibly their best game of the tournament! However, other Countries results didn't go their way unfortunately so they missed out on Bronze just. They never gave up so well done Team Great Britain. Goalie Ben Bowns got player of the tournament for GB! 😃

Hawks complete comeback and go through with Ducks/Tonight preview

Above are last nights NHL scores and Chicago and Anaheim will join Montreal Canadians and Boston Bruins in the second round if the NHL playoffs with Hawks having a comeback in the series against St Louis Blues to advance! 

They were 0-2 down in the Best of 7 but turned it around to secure game 6 for a 4-2 series win. 

Ducks advance too, after a 5-4 overtime win against tough opponents of the Dallas Stars! Round one for all the teams is nearly over and we will continue coverage for the rest of the playoffs here at EIHLFN! 

Tonight could be a stunning one. Los Angeles Kings could force game 7 after being 3-0 down vs San Jose Sharks and do a rare thing that is coming back from that much down! Heres all the fixtures!

Bruins through to round two, win series vs Wings 4-1/Tonight Preview

A truly brilliant series from Boston Bruins sees a comeback from 1-0 down in game one vs Detroit Red Wings, to win games 2,3,4 and five to go to round two as they face arch rivals Montreal Canadiens in a best of 7 series once again. It was capped off with a fine, but nervy 4-2 victory over a fighting Wings with their season on the line! This happened with all these results too!

Round two is really taking shape now. Defending Chicago Blackhawks can go through, like the bruins, with a comeback series win. Heres tonights fixtures!

Enjoy the games! 😃

 

Ducks stun stars in third for 3-2 series lead/Bruins can go through tonight

With a 3-2 lead going into the third, Anaheim Ducks shocked Dallas Stars in the third period with three quick goals for a 6-2 victory putting Stars on the brink of elimination. 

Heres last nights scores! 

To tonight, and Boston Bruins can go to round two with a win against Detroit Red Wings. Be sure to follow/watch the games. Put your Saturday tv on record for later if watching the Bruins game or any others! Here they are: 

Nhl.com for updates! Enjoy! 😃

Kings hang on to stay in playoffs...

Los Angeles kings kept their playoff hopes alive last night winning 6-3 against San Jose sharks keeping them in it! Heres all the scores! 

Tonight theres more and Chicago look for a comeback against the blues! 

From start to finish, GB give their all, win 4-3!

Great Britain are playing with determination now, and continued that with a 4-3 win which involved 2 goals in the opening minute! 🇬🇧

Sharks can swim through sweeping kings

Another team can join Montreal Canadians in round two of the NHL playoffs and do just what habs did sweeping their opponents. These teams have met three seasons in a row during post season and the first two, Kings won so this could possibly be Sharks revenge! 

All games tonight: 

 The Pittsburgh/Columbus series has had all of its games end in 4-3 score lines and last night it was a jackets comeback from 3-0 down to win 4-3 in overtime! 

All scores last night:

  

Gb put on a show, but get edged 2-1 by Lithuania

GReat Britain gave their all in game three of the world championships vs Lithuania and kept it tight throughout but sadly lost 2-1 but deserved to win as they put in a really good show! Proud!! 🇬🇧

Canadians to 2bd round, as other teams try to join

Montreal Canadians are through to round two of the NHL playoffs as they sweep the fighting lightning of Tampa Bay! A 4-3 sees them through and other teams aiming to do the same. One team that looks strong are Boston Bruins, habs arch rivals! They shutout Detroit Red Wings 3-0 with a great show! Heres all the scores: 😃

Tonight it continues and some unmissable games are in the lineup! Esspecially Chicago Blackhawks/ St Louis Blues as Hawks so called easy series has them 2-1 down! Blues have come big and stunned everyone, which isn't easy when a team whose already held Lord Stanleys drink, are trying to keep it with them! Nice one Blues! 

All games tonight, enjoy 😃

Canaidiens look to be first team in round two of NHL playoffs tonight

The Montreal Canadiens could be the first team in the NHL to get to round two of the playoffs if they manage to win game four of the toughest tournament in sport against the Tampa Bay Lightning who have struggled with injuries,especially goalie Ben Bishop! Its a big night not to be missed! Game start: 12:00am

Elsewhere, a level series between the League champions and favourites for the cup Boston Bruins and the lethal Pavel Datsyuk and the Detroit Red Wings in Hockey town that is Detroit! 12:30am 

Also, San Jose Sharks can almost taste round two as they are cruising past Los Angeles Kings 2-0 in the series looking to go triple tonight!  3:00am

Last, but not least, is a very unpredictable series; New York and Philadelphia! 1:00am 

Last nights scores: 

    

Eventful day for Stingrays...New coach, and search for New goalie begins as Bowns Joins Devils

Hull Stingrays are a busy team so far this off-season, looking to build on an impressive season in 2013/14! Since the departure of player coach Slyvain Cloutier, a lot of questions have been raised on who should take over Clouts role, whether it will be a current player or a new face. The answer is (drum-roll) current players! Omar Pacha will become Hulls new coach, leading the group in hockeys greatest role, being assisted by goal machine Carl Lauzon who had a stunning season last campaign and looks to build on it, this time at a much higher part in the club! 

Could this be a new start for the Rays. They've always been known as underdogs but could they finally get the success they have craved so much over the years. The stuff Clouts did will be hard to top, but two trust-worthy players look like they will give silver ware to the Stingrays!

Omar Pacha now has to build a strong team, but this task has now been made a lot more difficult. There legendary goalie Ben Bowns has left the Rays and signs with Cardiff Devils! A shock move will see him in red and white shirt. A great addition for the Devils in my opinion! Lucky to have him and a new beginning for Bowns. He loved his time in Hull though, and will be missed. He said his goodbyes in an emotional post on Hull Stingrays facebook Forum group:

I'd just like to start by saying a massive thank you for all your great support over the past two seasons. You made me feel part of the stingrays family right from the off...and trust me, its a very special family to be in and I loved every second of it!
I just want to make it clear that my decision has absolutely nothing to do with anything that is supposedly going on at the club right now, like I said in the HDM article I turned down a good offer from within the Gardiner conference as I saw no point in being at a different team in the conference when I could be at Hull. My decision was totally 100% down to wanting to play in the Erdhart Conference, challenge myself further and prove many people wrong again.
I can't thank Clouts and Bobby enough for the chance they've given me. I can't thank you guys enough for your awesome support of me and the team. When you guys get going the most versatile venue is one of the best places to play. The atmosphere, intensity, the emotion that you guys showed and total experience of that last regular season game against Sheffield will stay with me forever. Hull's fans are the main pull to get players in to Hull, everyone always comments on how crazy our fans are and how great the atmosphere can be so make sure you all stick together and get behind the team next season.
I never thought I'd love a club like I loved the Steeldogs but in just two seasons you guys helped prove me wrong, it made my decision extremely difficult.
Its been an honour to be able to pull the stingrays shirt over my head every weekend for the past two seasons and represent you guys. Hull will always have a special place in my heart and hopefully one day I'll be back in Stingrays colours.
Thanks again to all of you for everything and for making my time in Hull amazing!

Bownsy 

Nhl roundup:

The nhl playoffs are in full swing, heres tonights games: Tonights NHL games

PIT#10

CBJ#40 

COL#10

MIN#40

STL#20

CHI#30

ANA#10

DAL#40

Last nights scores: 

Rangers 2-4 Flyers (series tied 1-1)

Lightning 2-3 Canadians ( Canadians lead series 3-0)

Sharks 7-2 Kings (Sharks lead series 2-0)

Bruins 4-1 Wings (Series tied 1-1) 

Happy easter!

We hope all you hockey fans had a fabulous Easter weekend! Hope you enjoyed it! 😃

Stunning performance as GB beat Romania

Team GB bounced back from their 4-0 loss against Croatia on Sunday in the opening game of the world championships in great fashion. Ben Davies, Colin Sheilds, Mark Garside and Jonathan Phillips netted for GB to beat Romania 4-1 in game two of the international tournament with a fantastic performance to go with it! Well done boys, so far so good, we are all proud of you! Keep it up! 😃

Playoffs getting competitive in NHL as action in on full power

Last years NHL playoff champions Chicago Blackhawks were expecting an easy series win against the St louis Blues. A few days on, and they are down 2-0 after  two 4-3 overtime defeats in round one. Columbus Blue Jackets beat Pittsburgh in OT, also by the same score as game one and also the result was the same at 4-3. 😮

Heres all the scores:

It also continues tonight! Heres the games for easter Sunday!

For more, get NHL gamecenter app or go to NHL.com! 

Gb lose game one of the world championships

British ice hockey isn't completely over yet. The British national team with players from across the nation including EIHL stars are playing the world championships in Croatia! They sadly lost their opening game 4-0 but put in a great effort despite not getting past a strong opposing netminder. The Games from the national tournament will be live on premier sports so don't miss out! Sky channel 428; Virgin 551 😃

NHL playoffs: All series's are in full swing! Action continues tonight...

The NHL playoffs hotted up last night and got all four playoff best of 7 matchups underway. Here are the scores: 

When you've watched Britains got talent, or whatever your doing this Saturday night, tune in or follow the action of tonights NHL playoff matches! The drama continues and heres the details! ENJOY!! 😊

NHL playoffs: Day two roundup/Day three preview...

Day two roundup...

Last night was a really dramatic night for this years NHL playoffs day two! Defending champions Chicago Blackhawks started their playoff campaign vs St Louis Blues and a high scoring first period saw Hawks led 3-2. The next two periods were very different and the goals in the first looked to be the only goals! But with less than two minutes remaining, Blues tied it and took it to overtime. With it being the playoffs, it went to continuous overtime, and three periods in (almost an extra games worth of time) Blues scored to win it! 4-3 the Blues won!

Else where, New York Rangers came from 1-0 down to win 4-1 including three very quick goals in the third period to seal it!

Also, Colorado tied it 4-4 vs Minnesota Wild in the final minute to take to overtime in which they won it 5-4!

2012s winners Los Angeles Kings got their playoff campaign off to a terrible start going down 6-3 to San Jose sharks despite almost coming back from 5-0 down. It was 5-0 Sharks at one point but Kings made it 5-3 quickly then nearly stunned everyone but an empty netter for Sharks won it 6-3 for them!

Day three preview...

League champions Boston Bruins kick off their playoff run tonight as they take on a Detroit Red wings team that will begin their 23rd straight playoff campaign! It will be the first time the team have met in the playoffs since 1957, so this will be a classic original six series!

Tampa Bay Lightning will look to tie their series vs Montreal Canadians after loosing in overtime on Wednesday. Will they get revenge? This series should be a good one!

On Wenesday Dallas Stars almost made a shock comeback against Anaheim Ducks! It was at one point Ducks led 4-0 but Stars closed to the gap to 4-3 but couldn't quiet equalize. 

Updates at nhl.com, enjoy if watching! :-)   

NHL playoffs: Day one roundup/ Day two preview...

Day  one of the NHL playoffs was a blast to start the biggest stage of playoff hockey on the planet! Pittsburgh Penguins, Anaheim Ducks, and Montreal Canadians were all victorious retaking 1-0 leads in their series's! 

Scores were:

Pens 4-3 Jackets

Bolts 5-6 Canadians OT

Ducks 4-3 Stars

Tonights matches:

All face-off times in the picture are in UK time! Enjoy the games if watching! Score updates are at nhl.com!

NHL playoffs start tonight!!

Ice hockey season may be over here in the UK, but theres still hockey happening around the world, especially in the worlds biggest league in Canada/USA, the NHL. Tonight, there playoffs start tonight as each team progresses through four best of 7 rounds. 16 teams have made and tonights matches are:

Pittsburgh Penguins v Columbus Blue Jackets Face off: 12:00am (UK time)

Tampa Bay Lightning vs Montreal Canadians Face-off: 12:00am (UK time) 

Anaheim Ducks  vs Dallas Stars Face off: 3:00am (UK time) 

I'll update you on the first two games but maybe not Ducks vs Stars as I've got a lot on tomorrow, so need sleep but the midnight face-offs I can do!!

I've had a long day so I'm sorry if I stop updating. If this happens, go to nhl.com for updates or any other sites you know of. 

Clouts leaves Hull: End of an era for Stingrays

Yesterday, Hull Stingrays coach, Sylvain Cloutier, has left  the club after five seasons serving as player coach! He has lifted the Stingrays from being a struggling club, to a power house in the past five seasons. Back when he started in 2009/10 the club was really struggling and just couldn't be successful but since Clouts joined, he's made them rise. Hes beaten strong teams such as Sheffield Steelers and Nottingham Panthers not to forget the famous playoff quarter final victory against the steelers getting them a historic spot in the playoff finals weekend! 

He will say goodbye to the club on Sunday as Stingrays thank a great guy, player and coach! This season was probably his best as he helped the club to countless records and milestones making this Rays best ever season! This former NHLer will be missed in the EIHL and we wish him good luck in the future!

Busy off-season for Giants in the first week...

The Belfast Giants, who have had a roller-coaster season, winning the league and conference, but being runners up for the challenge cup and playoffs, have already had a roller-coaster off season. With ice hockey here in the UK over until September, the off season gives time for coaches to build their team for the new campaign!  Belfast Giants are building their team fast at the moment and within a week they've lost their coach Paul Adey and re-signed six players! Now bare in mind, we're not even a week into off season so giants are currently really busy by the sounds of things! 

On the first day after the heart break of losing the playoff final for the second time in a row, Giants got to work adding five players! These were:

Colin Sheilds

Daryl Lloyd 

David Phillips

Kevin Suarette 

Evan Chevire 

The news was like buses, none came for a few days then two huge ones came at once! This morning (Friday) Giants coach Paul Adey departed by mutual agreement by the club and later on, captain Adam Keefe signed for two years keeping him in Giants colours until 2016! 

The search is now on for a new head coach, who will take over the role in charge? Watch this space!

Sheffield Steelers: Playoff champions 2014/Clan win third

BREAKING- The EIHL battle is now over and a 6 month competition was ended yesterday in the EIHL playoff final in Nottingham as Sheffield Steelers won against Belfast Giants 3-2 in overtime to win the playoff crown in front of fans from every Elite league team! It was a dramatic final weekend at the Capital FM arena at the playoff party, everywhere you went in Nottingham, hockey fans took over! It was great sights! The entertainment was good off the ice as well as the celebrations inside joined by the action. Even a mascot dance off at a couple of points followed by Orchestra performances! It was all going off at the playoff weekend! 

EIHL season goes out with a bang as Drew Fata makes steelers champions!

This was it. The whole EIHL season of thrills and spills, had come down to this! The two remaining teams, Sheffield Steelers and Belfast Giants, had got to the final after one goal gaps in their semi final wins! 

The first period was end to end action with both goalies standing tall making key saves going into a big second period in which, all the regulation goals occurred! Giants hopes of a double looked likely when Cody Brookwell got the first strike at 24:24 but not long later Phill Hill tied it up for steelers blasting home a loose puck at 27:36 for 1-1. Both sides were on fire, playing to their strengths and one mistake would cost the trailing team, which would be Steelers as Giants took the lead via Colin Sheilds at 29:48. 2-1. Steelers put their foots down by this point but every chance was denied by the mighty Stephen Murphy for Giants but he was finally beaten as Robert Dowd tied it up at 37:25. This competition was going to the wire, and the third period was action packed once again, but no goals came despite so many opportunities! For Giants especially! 

The biggest one of the season was going, to what everyone though, would be a long overtime period. However, it was just 1:34 into the extra 20 minutes when Drew Fata fired up high to win it for steelers and clinch the playoff championship! Final score: (after OT) Belfast Giants 2-3 Sheffield Steelers!

Stats: http://www.eliteleague.co.uk/stats/official-game-report.php?game_id=1937

Clan comeback inspires McGrane overtime winner...

The losers of the semi finals met in a third place game early morning on Sunday. Braehead Clan had back up goalie Mike Will in goal for the final game of the season as Flyers came into this one pumping!

Fife held a 4-0 lead at one point in the second period, but Clan caught up to eventually lead 5-4! It had become a battle of the backups in the second when Flyers second keeper Blair Daly took over in nets! 

Whilst it was 5-4, Flyers scored two straight to lead 6-5. However, Clan levelled to send the final Scottish derby of the year to overtime when just under 4 minutes in, Ed McGrange fired home the winner!

Stats: http://www.eliteleague.co.uk/stats/official-game-report.php?game_id=1936

Playoff weekend: Day one/ Day two preview...

The big celebration of playoff weekend got underway today with fans from across the nation coming to Nottingham for a great atmosphere. The first two semi finals were Belfast Giants taking on Fife Flyers at 1pm followed by Sheffield Steelers facing off vs Braehead Clan at 5pm. These two matches were tight until the end but there had to be a winner to go to the grand final!

Breathe taking action sees Giants edge Flyers in late winner...

They don't get much better than this! Fife Flyers were the underdogs in the first Playoff weekend game on a Saturday Afternoon against runaway elite league champions Belfast Giants. These two teams gave their all in this one as both goalies were showing they would take no rubbish at all in a scoreless first period.

Flyers came out well in the second, even hitting the bar on one occasion then probably the most shocking miss you will see, with  Flyers net-minder Kevin Regan miles out of his goal Giants had a chance to score in an empty net...only for the shot be to be blocked. Still scoreless at the end of the second.

Both teams were on fire, and so were the fans, the place was going mental and for Giants it paid off as Kevin Saurrette zapped a goal which proved to the winner in an amazing game of ice hockey. 

And that was only the start...

Twists and turns happen in passionate game seeing steelers join Giants in final...

Sheffield Steelers knew Braehead Clan were going to press really hard in this one which they did. It was a feisty match to start with and both teams, you could tell, wanted this a lot! Clan were first on the board as Neil Trimm edged the puck past Frank Doyle for 1-0 but Steelers were quick to level though as Nate Discasmiro tied it up and by this point, both teams were playing to their strength. A goal was coming and it did, for steelers, Dustin Kohn firing past Doyle  for a 2-1 lead after the first period! 

Clan pushed hard in the second and Ash Goldie blasted home for 2-2 going into a huge final period with the whole building on the edge of the seats! 

The game winner came in the third as Robert Dowd fired high for a final score of 3-2 to steelers. 

This is it... final day of the season! 

Sunday 6th April will be the final day of the EIHL season. All the thrills, spills, action and drama come down to this as at 12pm Braehead Clan take on Fife Flyers in the bronze match, followed by the EIHL awards show at 2:30pm. Then at 4pm, the final game of the season for the playoff title between Sheffield Steelers and Belfast Giants takes place for this seasons champions! Its on premier sports (Virgin channel 551, Sky channel 428) and will be the biggest one of them all! Are you ready? LETS DO THIS!!!!!!

Playoff weekend 2014 is here!!!!!!!!!!!

The biggest weekend of the EIHL season is here!! Fans of all ten teams come to Nottingham for the mother of all partys which is playoff weekend!! More details here: http://eihlnation.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/road-

to-play-offs-is-on.html?m=1

The action gets underway at 1pm as Belfast 

Giants take on Fife Flyers in what is expected 

to one thriller of a game then at 5pm its 

Sheffield Steelers vs Braehead Clan. If your 

attending, enjoy the party!! Sunday will be the

third place game ( losers of each semi play 

each other) followed by the EIHL awards show 

at 2pm. After, the final EIHL game of the 

season. The winners of each semi play the 

climaxing game to become playoff champions! 

If your not attending, we hope to keep you 

updated on our twitter ( @EIHLnation) and 

facebook or if not search one of the four teams

and they'll be there!! Eihl site if not!! Enjoy the 

weekend hockey fans!! You will have a BLAST! 

Steelers thrash Blaze to get final POFW spot...

Play-off finals weekend is just one day away and the climax of the EIHL season is to be a big one! Its a different final 4 to what most would've expected back in September! Sheffield Steelers, on Tuesday, got to the big weekend for the first time since 2011 in great fashion wiping out Coventry Blaze 9-3 on aggregate! They'd won the first leg at the Skydome in Coventry then returned to the house of steel to dominate Blaze 6-1 on the night!

Blaze eliminated steelers last season in the quarter finals so this year was a case of payback and oh boy, did they get it! Two goals for Dustin Kohn and Maxime Lacroix were a big help in this game especially and Danny Meyers/Robert Dowd! Ross Venus got one for Blaze late on but it was too little, too late and Blaze weren't to make this years climax but steelers will! Stats:  http://www.eliteleague.co.uk/stats/official-game-report.php?game_id=1926 

Later on, we will post a preview for the biggest weekend of the season! Find out what the playoffs are all about here: http://eihlnation.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/road-to-play-offs-is-on.html (this post was done a while back so some details may have changed) 

Giants hopes of a double look strong as final four is in their sites/ Flyers shoot down stars to make history...

The playoffs are really hotting up now! Only five EIHL teams remain in this years playoffs and season as a whole. On Sunday, there were only two games, that meant a lot!

   Hull Stingrays attempted a comeback against Belfast Giants and the three goal aggregate score, which looked impossible to come from, shockingly became one in the second period as Stingrays lead 2-0. But as Giants have done all season, they went on to win 3-2 and 7-3 on aggregate to qualify once again for finals weekend!

Giants opponents for Saturdays semi-final would be decided in a crucial game between Dundee Stars and Fife Flyers. Stars had nearly come from behind the previous night as at one point they were down 4-0 but the Gardiner conference champions closed that gap to 4-3 on the night making Sunday a massive showdown! Stars gave their all on their final home game this season but Flyers heroics got them a 4-1 victory meaning a 8-4 final aggregate score would get them their first playoff weekend appearance since returning to top flight action!

FINAL	1	2	3	T	PP	S
HUL: C. Lauzon (08:49 2nd), C. Lauzon (09:53 2nd) BEL: C. Shields (18:14 2nd), K. Saurette (08:12 3rd),D. Lloyd (14:32 3rd)
Odyssey Arena
Hull	0	2	0	2	0/4	32
Belfast	0	1	2	3	1/5	36

FINAL	1	2	3	T	PP	S
FIF: J. Fulton (04:40 2nd), T. Hartung (10:01 2nd),J. Wilson (17:08 2nd), M. Reber (04:41 3rd) DUN: L. Vaskovic (14:42 3rd)
Dundee Ice Arena
Fife	0	3	1	4	1/4	38
Dundee	0	0	1	1	0/3	20