The Belfast Giants moved another step closer to the Elite League title on Sunday [23 March].
Adam Keefe’s squad produced a commanding performance to down the Clan 4-1 in Glasgow and move within two points of retaining their regular-season crown.
Elsewhere, the Guildford Flames shutout the Coventry Blaze, the Sheffield Steelers evened their home-and-home series with the Nottingham Panthers, Marc LeFebvre fumed at another Dundee Stars collapse, and the Manchester Storm dominated the Fife Flyers to tighten their grip on fifth.
Welcome to Around the Rinks, our daily summary of every teams’ post-game media remarks.
Around the Rinks: Sunday, 22 March 2026
Glasgow Clan 1-4 Belfast Giants
Mike Sirant, Glasgow Clan:
That was too tired teams playing tonight. You could tell that both teams were pretty tired and we made a few mistakes that Belfast capitalised on. Overall, we’ve got to take some positives from the weekend, playing a tough opponent in back-to-back games is good experience for us as we prepare for the playoffs.
Adam Keefe, Belfast Giants:
I’m really pleased with the performance tonight. I obviously didn’t love the game last night and, watching it back, I thought Glasgow played a big part in our lack of execution. They made us earn everything, threw a lot of pucks at the net, and were rewarded for that.
Tonight, I thought we were much more like ourselves and how we managed the run of the game. I liked the mental strength of the group, especially after last night and the situation we find ourselves in with the title race. We came into last night hoping that we could clinch tonight and it didn’t go our way, but the mental strength we showed tonight was great.
For us, it’s about staying focused. Throughout the week, we lost focus and I take full responsibility for that. The reality is that nobody is going to hand us the trophy: we have to attack and win it ourselves. We expect nothing but a difficult weekend against Nottingham and that’s the way it should be.
Nottingham Panthers 2-4 Sheffield Steelers
Kevin Carr, Nottingham Panthers (Image: Panthers Images)
Danny Stewart, Nottingham Panthers:
I can’t fault the guys’ effort. It was a heavy week for the guys, physically, mentally, and emotionally and we went out there and competed. We just didn’t look clinical. They had the extra bounce tonight, which was the difference in the hockey game. If you played the game ten times over, it’s a different result every time. We just didn’t have that end product.
Aaron Fox, Sheffield Steelers:
I thought it was a pretty solid sixty. Nottingham started out well, we pushed back, and played a good, solid road game. I thought we were better yesterday than we were tonight, we created way more opportunities last night, but we got some timely goals and some big saves. I’m happy that we were able to get the job done, as we’re two points closer to the Panthers with five games left to play.
Cardiff Devils 8-1 Dundee Stars
Christian Stoever, Cardiff Devils (Image: James Assinder)
Paul Thompson, Cardiff Devils:
I thought it was a way more rounded performance today. We took care of the puck a lot better: it was a pleasing result and a good way to finish the week.
Marc LeFebvre, Dundee Stars:
The last eight minutes were disgraceful: we disgraced the game. We finally scored a goal this weekend and then selfish play in the last eight minutes causes that scoreline. We embarrassed ourselves.
I know we’ve had a terrible season and I take full responsibility for that, but that last eight minutes was a disgrace. I feel sorry for our fans who travelled down to watch the game and saw those pitiful last eight minutes.
There are no words really to describe it.
Fife Flyers 0-4 Manchester Storm
Mike Courts, Fife Flyers:
I don’t think the scoreline reflects the game. I feel like we played the right way for large parts of the game and I’m actually pretty pleased with how the bulk of it went. Penalties started to hurt us a little bit, stick penalties will haunt you every time.
I thought our ‘Kid Line’ made some fantastic contributions to the game, as they did last night, too.
Cam Critchlow, Manchester Storm:
I thought it was a pretty good game. It was similar to last week: physical, competitive, and a few scrums. I thought it was a solid performance, we got better as the game went on, and I’m really happy that [Evan] Weninger got the shutout tonight. It was good to see him get the result he deserved. Overall, I’m happy to get the result: we handled the emotions well and it was a good team victory for us.
Guildford Flames 4-0 Coventry Blaze
Andrew Hemmings, Guildford Flames:
It was good to get the two points tonight, after losing in Manchester yesterday. The boys responded really well, getting a shutout on home ice is always a collective effort, and it was a good game all around.
Kevin Moore, Coventry Blaze:
That was kind of a weird game. I didn’t love our start, but then we picked it up in the second half of the game. I thought that if we could grab one, that would give us some momentum, but it never happened. Their goalie was good tonight. It’s a strange game and one we’re ready to put in the past.
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