TICKETS: The Go Goodwin’s Manchester Storm are back in action this Saturday 5th November, as we take on the Nottingham Panthers here at the Storm Shelter. Face off is at 7pm and tickets can be ordered online or by calling the box office on 0161 926 8782, or in person at the box office.

The Go Goodwins Sponsored Manchester Storm are back at the Storm Shelter this Saturday 5th November in Elite League action with a 7:00 pm faceoff against the Nottingham Panthers.

Nottingham, last season’s Challenge Cup and Playoff winners, are currently sitting second in the league, with 13 points from 10 games. After a 3-point weekend for the Storm, Manchester are just 3 points behind Nottingham after the same number of games. This matchup sees the best powerplay in the league face the best penalty killers in the league. Manchester are currently sitting top of the league powerplay rankings, converting on 25% of their opportunities, whilst Nottingham have successfully killed 94.44% of their penalties. The Panthers also have an excellent powerplay conversion rate, sitting second in the league on 23.53%.

The teams are coming into the game on the back of contrasting weekends. Nottingham slipped up against Edinburgh last Saturday at home, losing 4-2. 4 early goals for the Capitals secured the win, despite David Clarke grabbing two goals in the final period. On Sunday they travelled to Braehead, with the Clan winning 5-2 in an intense game where former NHL heavyweights Jay Rosehill & Brian McGrattan went toe to toe. Dimmen and Moran got the Panthers’ goals.

Manchester Storm on the other hand, took Cardiff all the way on Saturday, eventually going down 3-2 in overtime. A double for D man Connor Varley, his first Elite League goals, capped an impressive weekend for the defenceman. On Sunday, Storm took the long bus ride to Edinburgh and won 4-1 thanks to Trabucco and a Dziurzynski hattrick, in what was a really dominant display by the Storm on the road.

The Storm & Panthers have met twice this season already, in early-October. A goal-fest in Nottingham, including 4 from Chris Lawrence, resulted in an 8-5 victory for the Panthers, a game which included a monumental centre ice tilt between Storm tough guy Eric Neilson and Panthers forward, Brian McGrattan. Will we see a repeat on Saturday night?

A week later in Altrincham it took penalties to decide the game in Challenge Cup action, in what was a vital point secured for the Storm. Panthers eventually winning 3-2, with Storm goals coming from Heatley and Dziurzynski.

Both teams had players make the GB squad for the mid-week games against Norway. Panthers players Lachowicz, Clarke, Farmer, and Betteridge represented GB on the Tuesday game, with Farmer getting the solitary GB goal, and Lee played in the Wednesday game. For Storm, Paul Swindlehurst played both games, and Jack Prince scored a goal in a Man-Of-The-Match performance on Wednesday in Cardiff.

ONE TO WATCH: David Clarke became the first player to reach 350 Elite League goals last weekend and is currently sitting on 6 goals from 12 games. An Elite League and Team GB veteran, this is now his 13th season in the league.

MATCH DETAILS:

• Doors open from 6:00pm
• Face-off at 7:00pm
• There is NO live stream
• “Shirt Off The Back” is #29 Eric “The Dude” Neilson
• 50/50 & “Chuck A Puck” will also be running! Buy your tickets from sellers around the rink!
• Tickets for the game can be bought from HERE
• Storm will be in their BLACK home jerseys
• Jacks Bar will be open post game until 11pm
• There is FREE skating & skate hire post game