It remains a two-horse race at the top of the Planet Ice NIHL National Division, with perfect weekends secured by MK Lightning and Leeds Knights. 

Milton Keynes’ weekend saw them overcome Hull Seahawks and Peterborough Phantoms – two teams who are already confirmed for the end-of-season playoffs.

That allowed them to maintain the two-point cushion to Leeds at the top of the table, after the Knights kicked off their weekend with a 9-6 victory over top eight hopefuls Romford Raiders on Friday, before scoring 11 goals against Bristol Pitbulls on Sunday to end Gameweek 25 in emphatic style.

Third-placed Swindon Wildcats recovered from a 5-2 defeat to Peterborough at the Link Centre by scoring four unanswered goals at Berkshire Bees.

Still, they extended their lead over fourth-placed Hull, who only picked up one point from a possible four during the latest gameweek.

Sheffield Steeldogs’ only game of the weekend ended in an 8-5 defeat at Telford Tigers, in a result which saw the ‘Dogs drop a place in the standings to sixth, below Peterborough.

There remain two playoff spots up for grabs, with Romford winning just one of their three games over the weekend.

They are now just two points clear of Telford after the Tigers’ impressive four-point weekend.

And one win from two for Solway Sharks – their victory coming against Romford – mean they are still firmly in with a chance of ending the season in the top eight – something which they narrowly missed out on last season.

Results – NIHL National Division

Fri 28th Feb Leeds Knights 9-6 Romford Raiders L
Sat 1st Mar Bristol Pitbulls 1-5 Berkshire Bees L
Sat 1st Mar Milton Keynes Lightning 6-2 Hull Seahawks L
Sat 1st Mar Solway Sharks 6-3 Romford Raiders L
Sat 1st Mar Swindon Wildcats 2-5 Peterborough Phantoms L
Sat 1st Mar Telford Tigers 8-5 Sheffield Steeldogs L
Sun 2nd Mar Berkshire Bees 0-4 Swindon Wildcats L
Sun 2nd Mar Hull Seahawks 5-6 (OT) Telford Tigers L
Sun 2nd Mar Leeds Knights 11-3 Bristol Pitbulls L
Sun 2nd Mar Peterborough Phantoms 1-6 Milton Keynes Lightning L
Sun 2nd Mar Solway Sharks 4-6 Romford Raiders L

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

Photo credit: Tony Sargent

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