Lightning face Basingstoke Bison at the quarter-final stage of the competition this weekend, playing Steve Moria’s side at the Thunderdome on Saturday at 7.00pm, then in Basingstoke on Sunday at 5.30pm, with the aggregate winner progressing to the semi-finals at the Coventry Skydome Arena on Saturday 9 April.  The final takes place at the Skydome on Sunday 10 April, a must-see event in the EPL calendar.

Nick Poole’s side, four times play-off winners, has had a mixed run of form over recent weeks and lost narrowly to Basingstoke last Saturday on the Bison’s home ice after initially opening up a two goal lead – meaning honours are even between the two sides this season, with three wins each.

Both sides go into this weekend’s crucial play-off fixtures with very similar runs of league form behind them, Basingstoke having won five of their last ten EPL games and Lightning four.

Despite recent results, Lightning’s General Manager says the team is optimistic about their chances in this weekend’s quarter-finals, and called on supporters to turn up in numbers to support the team in Saturday’s home game.  “Some results haven’t gone our way recently – we can’t hide from that fact.  But the whole team is optimistic of getting the best results from this weekend’s games.  Nick (Poole) had two solid training sessions planned for this week to get everyone prepared and 100 per cent focused on the task in hand.

“We owe it to our fans to get to the finals in Coventry.  We’ve had some terrific home attendances this season, the supporters have really got behind the team and almost been an extra man on the ice, and that backing was very much evident last Sunday when we lost to Slough by only the narrowest of margins – the atmosphere in the rink was electric!  It would be great to see another massive crowd at Planet Ice this Saturday to really get behind the guys, and we know we’re lucky to have a very loyal group of travelling supporters who travel and support us at the away games too.

“Getting to the finals in Coventry means absolutely everything to this club – not just the players but the backroom staff, sponsors, and everyone connected with Lightning.  Our supporters are always the best at Coventry and we feel we owe it to them to do everything in our power to get there, to repay them for the faith they’ve shown in us all season”.

Lightning face-off against Basingstoke Bison at 7.00pm on Saturday 2 April at Planet Ice, tickets will be available on the door from only £5.50 for children, £11.00 for adults (discounted family tickets available).