Everyone has now played each other so we’re back to the beginning in terms of fixtures, which means Coventry Blaze and Manchester Storm meet again in the Elite Series.
Let’s bring you the numbers to build up to tonight’s game. It may not point in the direction of who might win, but it’s certainly interesting.
6
Number of days since the teams last met, with Manchester Storm taking a 3-2 overtime win to seal victory in the opening game
7
Number of shots on goal by Storm’s Andreas Klavestad in last Saturday’s game, picking one assist for his efforts
25
Number of points picked up by Mike Hammond for Manchester Storm in games against Coventry Blaze during his two years at the club between 2017 and 2019
181
Number of minutes played by Sean Bonar, the Manchester Storm goalie, two more than Coventry counterpart Shane Owen and the most of any netminders in the competition so far
Coventry and Manchester go head to head again in the Elite Series (PHOTO: Scott Wiggins)
2
Powerplay goals scored in last Saturday’s meeting of the two teams – one apiece scored by Scott Simmonds (Storm) and Simen Andre Edvardsen (Blaze)
19
This game sees the return of Blaze forward Luke Ferrara, who is back with Coventry after spells in France with Bordeaux and more recently, Cracovia Krakow of Poland.
This is also the number of games Blaze went without losing a game in regulation time, a run which ended on Wednesday in their 7-2 loss to Sheffield Steelers and started during the 2019/20 campaign.
14
Number of shots on goal by Nicolai Bryhnisveen, the highest of any Coventry player so far in the Elite Series and the most by any defenceman so far
18
Points taken from Coventry Blaze in their last ten “home” games, losing to Cardiff and Sheffield after regulation time in the two losses they did suffer in a run going back to the 19/20 season.
