The race for playoff seeding goes down to the final day of the regular season, with Sunday’s schedule bringing the 2025/26 Elite Ice Hockey League campaign to a close.
The only certainty is that Belfast Giants are league champions and the #1 seed heading into the playoffs.
‘Game of the Day’ has two contenders. At 4pm, Nottingham Panthers host Cardiff Devils in a direct battle for second place. The teams are separated by a single point, with the regulation wins tiebreaker heavily in Cardiff’s favour. That means the Panthers must win in regulation to finish second, any other result will see the Devils secure the runners-up spot.
Also in contention is the 6pm clash between Guildford Flames and Manchester Storm, with fifth place on the line. Guildford moved into fifth on Saturday night with a win in Belfast, ending Storm’s long hold on that position. Manchester must win in regulation to reclaim fifth, as the Flames hold the tiebreaker.
In Glasgow (4pm), Clan and Sheffield Steelers meet again less than 24 hours after Sheffield’s 8-1 win. The Steelers ended a four-game home losing streak on Saturday and could still finish third if they better Nottingham’s result. Clan can climb to seventh if they outperform Coventry.
At the Skydome, Coventry Blaze host Belfast Giants. The Blaze are still not guaranteed seventh place, a point would secure it, while the Giants look to finish the regular season strongly after their title win.
Finally, Dundee Stars and Fife Flyers meet at the DIA in both teams’ final game of the season. Fife took an overtime win on Saturday, and the sides meet again in what will be the Ward family’s final game as owners of the Stars after more than 20 years. Head coach Marc LeFebvre will also depart for France at the end of the season.
Photo: Panthers Images
