A total of 25 games have been played on 1 January across the Elite League’s history, the first being in Belfast in 2004. 13 of those games were won by home teams, while 12 were won by the visitors – there were no ties on this date back when those were possible.
Seven teams started the year with shutouts, with Cardiff having done it to different opponents three times and being blanked once themselves. Four games have gone to overtime on this date, with only one won by a home team, while just one needed a shootout – Manchester hosting Sheffield in 2018.
Cardiff have a 3-1 record playing at home on New Year’s Day. The only team to beat them was Coventry in 2020 in a shutout win.
Coventry have never beaten Nottingham on 1 January, losing both of the two previous meetings. However, prior to those games, they were unbeaten in three on New Year’s Day against other opposition. Nottingham, meanwhile, have won three of four road games on this date, including two in Coventry.
Manchester will be hoping to improve their New Year’s Day record tonight. The Storm have lost in all but two of nine games on this date, including the last three years straight to Sheffield. Their last 1 January win was in 2022 against Nottingham, while you have to go back to 2019 for the only time they’ve beaten Sheffield on this date. Sheffield have six wins from 10 games on this date.
Photo: Scott Stevens
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