Game Day Preview vs Flyers

League Record So Far; 24 – 15 – 2, 50pts, 4th Place

L10GP; 3 – 7 – 0

Y Vindico, Fy Nghartref – Dydd Gŵyl Dewi hapus pawb! It is one of 6 home games left this regular season at the Vindico Arena and it has some special additions.

Not only are the teams the worst performing right now, but for one it is about pride and survival. The other, has more than just pride at stake.

National pride and identity. A New Jersey for the special occasion and a banner raising for another special occasion.

All the ingredients for a disaster. Much like their road game against another Scottish opposition last night.

Recap vs Clan

A game with no pace, no great physicality, lack of defensive awareness across the lines and a shambolic attitude to boot.

Save for the Goat (of which the Testimonial tickets go on sale today, here is a link; https://www.cardiffdevils.com/tickets/book-online/ ) and Ryan Barrow, who has been non-stop the last few weeks, playing 200ft and never quitting.

Clan all but ended the game early in the second but that seemed like an afternoon jaunt for the home side as Devils were rigid, unready and oblivious to any presence in their slot areas, leaving Carruth with an overly busy night.

As mentioned, Barrow tried his best each shift to drive offensively and linked up well with Olischefski at times, yet there was nothing else from the leading or supporting cast. They have now gone to 3 straight defeats on the road, coughing up 14 goals and only finding the net twice.

That missed opportunity to plug the gap aside, there should be no room for error or disappointment this evening vs the leagues worst outfit since we saw the Edinburgh Capitals and finally, we see the return of Riley Brandt.

Spicy.

Tale of the Tape

Devils are 100% on the season vs Flyers both home and away (2:2), with each game becoming a gong show on the scoreboard. They have put up 21 goals vs Flyers yet have conceded 9 overall, their latest clash in Kirkcaldy seeing them turn a lacklustre performance into a 6:2 rout.

For Devils to finish strong and prepare for the CC Final, they needed a win yesterday to kick things off for the end-season run, with a missed chance in Glasgow, they will have to make up for it in their busy schedule this week, their third game in 4 days.

Harewood featured this week, despite being noted as injured (lower body) with the Pitfalls, his ice time increased overall. With Brandt back in the line up, he should be expect to slot in on the 4th line, so Devils can maintain a full group of forwards for the third straight game.

I would expect Bowns to feature tonight, as Carruth had the games this week already, with the hope of a Ben Davies goal, for the Welshman in me.

Flyers would love to upset the party in Wales, even if it is dragging the game to extras, where the hosts have only been to OT twice, losing both. An OT outcome would tie them with Caps’ last season in the EIHL for 11 points and 13 games to go. Salvageable, at least.

Devils’ last loss to Flyers was actually their last fixture at home in a shout out last season. There is previous here.

Devils desperately need a win, to stay clear of the chasing pack, as a the Chase for 8th (and to avoid it) is heating up. Clan’s win last night, their first vs Devils this season put them 5 points clear of the last playoff slot.

Flyers would need to win all their remaining games and hope results go their way to even have a slightest chance of making playoffs, however on head to head, they really should be eliminated by rights.

A team with nothing left to play for but pride and to be a thorn in the side of their opponents, playing without pressure can be the most challenging, despite their overall season and position.

Ones to Watch

Leadership is key here and that isn’t just from those with a letter on their jersey. There is still a lot to play for and the season isn’t over.

Josh MacDonald collected an assist on the Goats goal last night, taking his tally to 47. Last night also saw Storms’ Alexis D’Aoust surpass the 50 points mark to 52.

Prior to the run in, MacDonald was on pace to hit that mark 5 games ago. He is second for goals (22), three behind leader Chase Gresock of Blaze.

Will he be fired up and look for a gong show tonight?

As mentioned earlier, the Goat got on the scoreboard last night, taking his season tally to 36 with 18 goals. After being blanked in Belfast, he has bounced back with 3 goals in 2 games and is still 5 points in his last 5GP overall. He was assisted by O’Brien (secondary) and he is 1 point from 50 in regular season as a Devil.

For Flyers, there isn’t much for them to shout about but their ever smiling and industrious forward Lucas Chiodo has been a pleasure to watch all season.

He is level as a points leader for his club on 32 with (Cichy) and leads his team with assists (24) just one behind Devils O’Brien and MacDonald.

Chiodo is just 10 points from the century mark for all EIHL games played since he joined Flyers last season, hopefully he makes it for a great personal note. If he would ever play in the EIHL next season, you can certainly bet that he would be picked up.

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