The second week of the Planet Ice NIHL National Division playoffs threw up plenty of surprises, with six teams still in with a chance of reaching the Final Four. 

Leeds Knights remain in a strong position to quality but have not mathematically done so yet, despite taking three points from a possible four against Yorkshire rivals Hull Seahawks.

The Seahawks won in overtime on Saturday night but couldn’t back that performance up on home ice, falling to a 6-4 defeat to the Knights.

Hull remain third in Group A on four points – two behind Peterborough Phantoms, who took maximum points against Telford Tigers.

Telford took the Phantoms to overtime on Saturday to claim one point from a possible four, but given their inferior record against Peterborough and the group stage fixtures still to come, their chances of reaching the Final Four are over as they have no chance of overtaking the teams above if a mini-league was created.

In Group B, unbeaten Swindon Wildcats had a weekend to remember against MK Lightning as they moved to within touching distance of finals weekend in Coventry.

The Wildcats required overtime to win 4-3 in Milton Keynes on Saturday, then followed that up with another one-goal victory on home ice the following night.

Milton Keynes remain second in their group, with a double-header to come in the final set of round-robin fixtures against Sheffield Steeldogs – the only side to still be pointless after four games.

The Steeldogs lost 5-4 on home ice to Romford Raiders on Friday night, with the reverse fixture seeing Romford prevail 7-2.

Sheffield cannot now mathematically reach the Final Four, regardless of what happens in week three of the playoffs.

A full list of fixtures/results for each group can be found here.

Results – NIHL National Division

Fri 4th Apr Sheffield Steeldogs 4-5 Romford Raiders PO
Sat 5th Apr Leeds Knights 6-7 (OT) Hull Seahawks PO
Sat 5th Apr Milton Keynes Lightning 3-4 (OT) Swindon Wildcats PO
Sat 5th Apr Telford Tigers 4-5 (SO) Peterborough Phantoms PO
Sun 6th Apr Hull Seahawks 4-6 Leeds Knights PO
Sun 6th Apr Peterborough Phantoms 4-2 Telford Tigers PO
Sun 6th Apr Swindon Wildcats 4-3 Milton Keynes Lightning PO
Sun 6th Apr Romford Raiders 7-2 Sheffield Steeldogs PO

Stay updated on all the latest fixtures and results from across the NIHL regional divisions, WNIHL and junior leagues.

Photo credit: Swindon Wildcats

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