The Elite League title race already has all the signs of a classic. The top three teams are separated by only a handful of points, the league’s most in-form forwards are driving their sides towards contention, and a crucial head-to-head clash at the end of November could reshape the table entirely – the kind of drama that always attracts attention from fans and Virgin Bet alike.
With momentum swinging week by week, here’s a full look at where things stand, what the next fixtures mean, and who is most likely to lift the regular-season championship.
Current standings
Sheffield Steelers currently sit top of the standings with 26 points, but their position is far from secure. Nottingham Panthers sit just one point behind on 25 and hold a game in hand, giving them a mathematical advantage if they continue their strong run.
The Panthers have looked organised, confident and consistent, putting together one of the league’s most balanced records of 11 wins (including one overtime win) and four losses (three of which were OT) at the time of writing. The Steelers have also been disciplined recently, dominating games with solid structure and strong attack. They currently have 12 wins (four OT) and four losses (two OT).
The recent meetings between the Sheffield Steelers and Nottingham Panthers show just how finely balanced this title race is. On 29 November, the Steelers edged a 3–2 win in overtime, a tight, high-pressure game that swung back and forth before Sheffield found the breakthrough. But only a week earlier, it was the Panthers who came out on top, beating the Steelers 4–3 in a shootout — their first shootout win of the season.
Cardiff Devils remain the outsiders in this race, but they have remained steady throughout the season, with big wins including an 8-2 victory over bottom-of-the-table Fife Flyers. They are within striking distance of the top two, just three points behind the Panthers, and in a league where standings can quickly shift, the Devils may pounce if the top two falter.
Team and player stats
When it comes to individual impact, no one has a bigger contribution than Steelers forward Mitchell Balmas, who leads the league’s individual points with 20, from 10 goals and 10 assists. Panthers forward Ross Armour is matching Balmas in the goal-scoring department with 10 goals of his own. Meanwhile, his teammate Mitchel Fossier sits fourth in points overall with 17 (nine goals and eight assists).
Team stats tell a similar story: The Panthers boast the league’s highest goals-per-game average at 4.07, showing how dangerous they are going forward, while the Steelers balance things out with the tightest defence in the league, allowing just two goals per game on average.
And at the other end of the ice, Cardiff have the standout individual performer in net — Ben Bowns, who leads all goaltenders with a remarkable save percentage of 95.05 % and a league-best 1.41 goals against average.
Together, these numbers highlight how each title contender brings a different strength into the race: Nottingham with attacking firepower, Sheffield with defensive discipline, and Cardiff with elite goaltending.
Who will win?
Right now, the Panthers look to have a slight edge. They’re only a point behind the Steelers, they have a game in hand, and they’re scoring more than any other team. The Steelers are still strong contenders thanks to their league-best defence and Balmas’ scoring form, while the Devils remain in the mix because of Ben Bowns’ outstanding goalkeeping. But with the standings this tight, one good or bad weekend could completely change the picture.
