Sat 11 Apr 2026 - 06:00AM
FIRST-LEG PREVIEW: TRIP TO MANCHESTER
The playoffs get under way this evening as Nottingham Panthers travel to Manchester Storm in the first leg of the quarter-finals (19:00 face-off).
Panthers and Storm will also go head-to-head tomorrow (Sunday 12th April) at a sold-out Motorpoint Arena in the second leg (16:00 face-off).
The two-legged tie will be determined by the aggregate scoreline with five-minute three-on-three overtime and penalty-shots if needed.
The full quarter-final schedule is as follows...
Belfast Giants (1) v (8) Glasgow Clan
Game 1: Saturday 11th April at 19:00 in Belfast
Game 2: Sunday 12th April at 19:00 in Glasgow
Cardiff Devils (2) v (7) Coventry Blaze
Game 1: Saturday 11th April at 19:00 in Coventry
Game 2: Sunday 12th April at 17:00 in Cardiff
Nottingham Panthers (3) v (6) Manchester Storm
Game 1: Saturday 11th April at 19:00 in Manchester
Game 2: Sunday 12th April at 16:00 in Nottingham
Sheffield Steelers (4) v (5) Guildford Flames
Game 1: Saturday 11th April at 18:00 in Guildford
Game 2: Sunday 12th April at 16:00 in Sheffield
The four quarter-final winners will progress to the Elite League Playoff Finals Weekend on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th April at the Motorpoint Arena.
Panthers are the defending playoff champions after last season's thrilling 4-3 victory over Cardiff Devils which saw Mitch Fossier score the winner in the second period of overtime.
View from the Bench
Head Coach, Danny Stewart, said: "Manchester are well coached and Critch (Cam Critchlow) has done a good job there this season.
"They are well structured and play good defensive hockey. They have a great goalie who can bail them out when they make mistakes and he can win them hockey games.
"They have three lines which bring great energy and they can generate offence. They are hard-working and very physical."
Team News in association with Candid Digital
Captain Matt Alfaro (lower body) will miss game through injury. There are a few other injury doubts on the roster but as Head Coach Danny Stewart told Panthers TV in midweek, Panthers are hopeful of a couple being back in the line-up.
Three chances to win an authentic game-quality jersey
The three prizes on offer in this week's online competition are game-quality regular-season Panthers jerseys. They are unworn but will be signed. The competition closes at 22:00 tonight (Saturday 11th April). Tickets cost £1 each and can be purchased by clicking here.
Tickets, Webcast and Updates
Limited tickets are available for tonight and they can be bought online here, while you can also follow the action live on the Storm TV webcast which can be purchased here.
There'll be updates throughout the game on the Panthers X account and there's live scoring on the Elite League website.