Week 19 of the 2025/26 Elite Ice Hockey League season brings two huge games in the title race, European competition, and much more.
Nottingham Panthers are representing the Elite League in the final of the 2026 IIHF Continental Cup, which will be hosted at the Motorpoint Arena this year. In a revised format, six teams contest the final round, split into two groups of three. The group winners will meet in the final, with the Panthers aiming to become the first EIHL team to win the competition twice. They will also be looking to keep the trophy in the UK after Cardiff Devils claimed the title last season.
The Panthers face HK Mogo of Latvia on Wednesday and GKS Katowice of Poland on Friday as they bid to reach Saturday’s final. The other group consists of Ducs d’Angers (France), HC Torpedo Öskemen (Kazakhstan) and Herning Blue Fox (Denmark).
In EIHL action, Friday night sees the start of a Belfast Giants vs Sheffield Steelers double-header. The teams meet on successive nights at the SSE Arena, with just two points separating them as they chase league leaders Nottingham. Belfast do, however, hold the advantage of two games in hand over the Steelers.
Glasgow Clan are the visitors in Manchester on Friday night, with Storm continuing their push towards the top four.
Saturday night begins with Guildford Flames hosting a resurgent Fife Flyers. Dundee Stars and Coventry Blaze meet again eight nights later in a crucial battle for the final playoff place, while Manchester Storm travel to Cardiff to face the Devils.
The week concludes with three games on Sunday: it’s derby time in Kirkcaldy as Fife host Dundee, Coventry welcome Glasgow Clan to the Skydome, and Cardiff travel to Guildford for the Flames’ second home game of the weekend.
Photo: Scott Wiggins
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