The Belfast Giants are smiling from ear-to-ear this morning.
Adam Keefe’s squad enjoyed the perfect weekend in Round 24, winning twice to extend their championship lead to six points.
And the Giants have drawn strength for unexpected sources of late, with a mid-season signing making our Elite League Team of the Week.
With that in mind, let’s dive into our Round 24 selections.
Elite League Team of the Week: Round 24
Jake Kupsky, Belfast Giants:
Jake Kupsky, Belfast Giants (Image: James Assinder)
Jake Kupsky could turn out to be the Belfast Giants’ signing of the season.
Arriving from the Guildford Flames at the start of the month, the 30-year-old has produced a string of standout performances, providing exemplary injury cover for Jackson Whistle.
The American backstopped the Giants to a four-point weekend in Round 24, recording a 29-save shutout in a 7-0 beating of the Dundee Stars.
However, his best showing came on Friday [20 February] against the title-contending Cardiff Devils.
Kupsky made 24 saves on 25 shots in Cardiff, denying four high-danger scoring chances and stopping 1.64 goals above expectations in Belfast’s 2-1 win].
Jamal Watson, Guildford Flames:
Nobody will relish the prospect of facing the Flames in the playoffs.
Paul Dixon’s side are a nuisance when at their best, as demonstrated against the Sheffield Steelers on Saturday [21 February].
Guildford outlasted the Steelers to win in overtime, with Jamal Watson once again integral at both ends of the ice.
The Canadian provided the game-winning secondary assist versus Sheffield, finishing his 29-minute performance with a flourish.
Watson tallied four more points in Round 24: two assists in a 6-2 win over the Dundee Stars, plus a goal and an assist in a 6-3 loss to the Steelers.
With Watson firing on all cylinders, the Flames head down the final stretch with their usual dark horse swagger.
Colton Saucerman, Coventry Blaze:
In the battle for fifth, every point matters.
And Colton Saucerman’s intervention on Sunday [22 February] could set the table this spring.
The American tallied a primary assist and the overtime winner as the Coventry Blaze edged the Manchester Storm, playing 25 minutes alongside Jordan Power.
Saucerman was equally pivotal in the Blaze 4-2 drubbing of Dundee, finishing the night with a primary assist and a plus-three rating.
While his offensive numbers, the 33-year-old is even more impressive in his own end.
Crucial to the Blaze’s penalty-killing efforts, Saucerman shows no signs of slowing down.
Jordan Kawaguchi, Belfast Giants:
Jordan Kawaguchi, Belfast Giants (Image: William Cherry)
Jordan Kawaguchi is on pace for a career year.
If the Canadian keeps scoring at his current rate, he’ll match his 52-point haul from 2022-23 (for the ECHL’s Idaho Steelheads) despite playing two fewer games.
Kawaguchi scored twice in Round 24, including Belfast’s game-winner against Cardiff.
Brady Gilmour, Manchester Storm:
Brady Gilmour, Manchester Storm (Image: Mark Ferriss)
Brady Gilmour just keeps on rolling.
With points in his last four appearances, the Canadian is up to 36 points (12 goals, 24 assists) in 40 appearances on the season, playing an integral role in the Storm’s rise to fifth in the standings.
Gilmour added four points to his tally in Round 24: a goal in defeat to the Blaze, plus a goal and an assist as Manchester shocked the Nottingham Panthers 5-1.
Matthew Marcinew, Nottingham Panthers:
With Matthew Marincew returning to the line-up, the Panthers’ prospects are looking up.
In his first appearance since 11 January, the 32-year-old scored a brace (including the shootout winner) to fire Nottingham to a 3-2 victory over Cardiff.
Marinew was influential all over the ice, making two blocks and playing 18:22 on his injury comeback.
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