7:45PM Ikhlas v. Shukr
This is a rematch of game one of the season, where these two teams played tentative hockey and finished the game with a 1-1 tie.
Since then? Both teams have won 3 straight and sit tied at the top of the standings with 7 points each.
Waqar Khan and Mohammad Hamoud have developed a special type of chemistry that has made them a tough duo to shut down. Khan stands tied for first in scoring with 9 points and Hamoud is tied for second in scoring with 7 points.
Haya has also been an offensive force, but their scoring has been mostly by committee rather than by any particular player or line. Aazar Zafar, Atif Mian, Mehmed Rizvanovic, Abdu Sharkawy and Shabil Ahmed have all contributed to lifting Haya over most of their opposition.
This game, being the 5th of the season, is officially the mid-point. And we'll know which team will stand alone at the top of the standings.
Burning Question?
An under-rated aspect of these teams success has been in goal. These teams were the last two to select goalies in the draft and yet are top two in the league. The competition between Yusuf Kapoor and Kaunain Saiyed will likely be the deciding factor.
Player to Watch:
Naeem Akhtar has yet to produce the way we expect him to. Look for him to break out soon.
Who's Hot?
Mohammed Hamoud had 4 point last week and is on a tear right now.
8:45PM Ihsan v. Sabr
Ihsan versus Sabr is the second game of a back-to-back series, as these two teams will once again face-off. Last week's game was a huge debacle for Sabr.
Sabr looked poised for their first win of the season after the Ihsan team showed up without a goalie. Instead, Sabr somehow managed to lose 7-6 against an empty net!
To their credit, Ihsan found a way to control the play using the extra man, and continued to pepper Sabr with shots and breakdown their defense.
But Sabr has blamed their struggle mainly lack of turnout and have added Tariq Hathout through player replacement system and hope it will help them start winning some games.
This will be a tough game and one that will test mettle of both teams.
Burning Questions?
Can Sabr persevere? Can they win their first game?
Player to Watch:
Ahmad Hathout holds the league lead with 9 points including 4 points in his last game (albeit against an empty net). He is a game-breaker to watch.
Who's Hot:
The snakebitten Ibrahim Hindy got his first point of the season last week, and then added three more.
9:45PM Emaan v. Haya
Just like Ihsan, Emaan showed up without a goalie last week however fell 6-4 to the 1st placed Shukr team. Emaan barely losing to the top team in the league without a goalie is a pretty good sign that they're an underrated team and probably better than their spot in the standings right now.
Haya, meanwhile, has had a lot of trouble competing lately. They're lost their last 3 games and have only scored 2 goals in those games. Now, part of the problem is that star defender Salman Khalid has been missing lately but these are not good signs for the team. A team with Salman Syed should score goals.
GM Nadeem Qureshi has been having trouble himself with moving the needle, but he also needs to start looking to make trades if things don't turn around soon. If things aren't working, then you gotta shake things up!
Burning Questions?
Can Haya turn their season around or will they continue their nosedive?
Player to Watch:
Rizwan Ali was drafted early and is capable of being the best goalie in the league, but he hasn't carried his team in the way they thought he would.
Who's Hot?
Abdur-Rahman Buttar has 7 points and has gotten points in every game this season. Buttar has been a pleasant surprise for his team.
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