Weekend Review; Home Stand Part Two

League Record So Far; 32 – 11 – 3, 67pts, 2nd Place

This is a different article of late, as the weekend was shared with EIHL Face-Off Podcast co-host, Jordan Byers, read on for his own takes on the weekend games at the Vindico Arena.

CARDIFF, WALES – It was another hit and miss this past weekend as Devils hosted Scottish rivals Flyers and Clan for games two and three of their long awaited home stand in regular season.

Despite being unbeaten in regulation so far in this home stand, Devils only managed to come away with 3 out of a potential 4 points, in a weekend that has seen Steelers edge close to the title and convincing performances become slightly astray, as the battling Scots teams fought every minute to guarantee the best finish they can on their respective campaigns.

The weekend results have left just one regulation win needed for the leaders, who could seal it in Cardiff midweek, which might mean there would be empty seats that night as Devils fans would surely not want to witness an orange party on their ice.

Some might remember the last time Steelers won silverware, again in Cardiff that was the last game to be played of the season due to the pandemic.

The weekend was a focus to keep their own campaign rolling, as it is never over until it is over. The problem was, there was steely and determined teams coming to town with their own agendas in mind, their own destiny and their own story to tell.

Flyers – Missed Opportunities, Stoic Defiance

Flyers weathered a hellacious onslaught to close their series against the hosts with a shootout win meaning the series finished 4:2 to the Devils.

It was only the third time this campaign Devils lost in OT or to a SOL, so despite the frustrations of it not going their way, only Steelers had less in that category.

Flyers started off on a rocket, scoring on their first chance within the first minute, firing past Wall early to start the proceedings.

This came from a blunder defensively as Rymsha lost his man, but a watchful Joey Martin admired the pace without challenge as the attacker reset following the early play and was allowed to skate deep and test Wall.

The rebound sent the puck wide to the boards, however this is where the defense totally broke down. Leaving the forward to linger unchecked on the back door and Wall under pressure to deal with it. Flyers one-zip.

Images taken via Youtube on the Cardiff Devils page

The flyers 2nd goal was almost a similar affair, again early in the period, where a turnover by their own blue line cut through a sloppy line change defensively and found an unmarked Colin Shirley, that allowed for a breakaway chance, which was duly converted. Flyers lead restored.

Shirley receiving the pass for his breakaway

Moments before, a turn over with line change, Shirley off screen, would be bottom right at the blue line as Mosey skated around to join the rush down the middle, taken via Cardiff Devils Youtube

The second goal was more unfortunate timing than anything else, but more awareness of the rush and dangers from the opposing forwards could have helped to slow down that play.

No one expects to be turned over on the boards like that, particularly Crandall with Alderson in tow and Mosey ready to set up similar to the first goal, so for the defense expecting a change to join the rush on the other blue line, getting caught flat footed out of the door was inevitable.

Devils drew level again on the power play with a lovely wrister from Crawford, earning his third of the season and overall 49 points after this weekend from 3 points over both games (1G, 2A).

Flyers took the lead back following a brilliant zone entry where the puck carrier wasn’t pressed physically enough, allowing a classic low slot saucer pass for a quick tap in on the back door.

Following a turnover after an attacking play the other end, Flyers countered again and got rewarded

This was then cancelled out again by Alderson with a beautiful wrap around effort not seen since the Ulmer days. That is how the scores stayed until the shootout.

Of this game, over 90 shots were fired at Flyers giant goalie, Shane Owen, with 50 SOG. Devils had a 4.88% ExG score for this game, with Flyers at 1.92%. Sometimes, that is how the games go.

As mentioned on the EIHL Face-Off Podcast, concede early, you re playing against the game rather than controlling it. That was how that game went.

Out of a Toal 130 shots across both benches, only 11 made for high danger chances, with the majority from the mid-slot, with Owen equal to them. 2 goals each in this area alone. Accuracy was left wanting, with Devils leaving the game a rueful 6% for shot efficiency.

With league expectants Steelers looming fast, a game like this would see another nail peeling performance from earlier in the season and an orange flavoured celebration on home ice to boot.

Clan – Hard Battles, Hard Points Gained

The second game of the Scots double header during the home stand made for a tense, frustrating battle where both goalies put in stellar performances.

You would be forgiven to expect a goal fest considering Clan let in 13 against Flyers recently over a two game stand, on the night however, the net minders stood tall and were heroic throughout.

This time around, it was less one sided, as the goalies combined for a similar 122 shots against, with 41 SOG fired at Clan and 29 against Bowns.

Alderson got on the goal sheet again, another PPG with a wicked one timer, although he should have been rewarded with a second goal of the night, due to a delayed penalty period of play, which was incorrectly called for goalie interference.

That play not only should have rightly resulted in a goal for the home team, but a 5 on 3 power play. A missed call that ultimately didn’t change the outcome of the game.

Clan looked strong defensively. Very physical throughout. Alderson got floored open ice whilst reaching for a high puck, Fair game through the chest in that situation.

There was 8 high danger chances with Devils ExG% at 4.29. This would have been rewarded if not for an impressive Karjalainen. He bailed out his team on numerous occasions and it took until he was pulled, late in the game for an ENG by Ryan Barrow to settle it.

The win maximised their points on the night, going three for the weekend and unbeaten in regulation during this home stand.

They maintained their special teams positions with second on the PP and third on the PK respectively. Strengthening both in the process.

The win also put the hosts one game from a series sweep, so far, matching the performances against the minnows from Braehead exactly to last seasons campaign. There is a massive goal differential between the two, currently at 21:5.

For the playoffs, this left Clan in a precarious position, now just one point from Dundee and Flyers although the latter they have 2 games in hand over. For the final seedings, as it stands, it might be another knockout clash between these two foes, where if so, Devils would look to exact revenge.

Looking Ahead – Grim Prospects of Great Expectations

For Wednesday, that is the game it boils down to, but will the fans want to face that challenge of at least keeping their long time rivals at bay, even for one more game?

The current form has dampened a building trajectory of late, with one regulation loss in five and 7 out of 10 points claimed. Steelers are also one loss in their last 5, with a SOW on the stretch.

Those defensive issues and poor shot quality will need to be ironed out ready if they stand a chance to repeat their marvellous performance a few weeks ago.

A solid bet would see Bowns take the reigns in goal, however doubts are abound for Cole Ully’s status, after he picked up an injury during play against Flyers and was out for Clan.

My Three Stars From The Weekend

Thoughts From Jordan Byers

On The Devils v Flyers Game

Wildly entertaining Saturday night hockey with Fife fighting for every possible point left available, Cardiff Devils had a very uncharacteristically odd night.

It seemed all evening that the Devils team lacked any desire or motivation to push to take the lead of the game. When the Devils fell behind however, it appeared like the Devils changed gears and were very hungry for a goal to then relax once again after a game tying goal.

The night started off in the best way possible for the Flyers, continuing their momentum of the previous 2 games.

A goal straight away in the very first shift! (32 seconds to be exact). Troy Lajeunesse scores once again for Flyers (24 goals scored this season for Flyers).

Devils Dman Rymsha appeared to be pulled out of position by Flyers keeping the puck against the boards and rotating the puck high, Lajeunesse is then left practically one on one with Wall, who was moving across the paint and couldn’t get his pads down quick enough to stop the puck going under him, 1-0 to Fife.

It took just under 10 minutes for a response from the Devils with a goal from Evan Mosey after great pressure from Cardiff to keep the puck in Fifes zone. Crandall found Mosey wide open at the backdoor for a seemingly easy finish ending the first tied at one.

Second period opened once again with a great start for Fife, as birthday boy Collin Shirley connected on a breakaway from a Lucas Chiodo feed, to go one on one yet again with Tyler Wall.

2-1 Fife.

What then proceeds next is close enough to ‘ping pong hockey’.

Drake Pilon sat for an ‘interference’ call, personally it was a clean hit. We’ve seen the likes of Riley Brandt make the exact same hit all season but tonight that hit wasn’t liked by the referees.

Marcus Crawford then scored a lovely Blue Line snap shot to a heavily screened Shane Owen, a well worked PP goal for the Devils to tie the game once more.

Lucas Chiodo with his PP unit scored once again as Max Humitz and Teemu Pulkkinen shown why they have a great partnership 3-2 to Fife.

Just under two and a half minutes later, Devils tie the game once again. Brandon Anderson scores what appeared to be a scramble around the net of Shane Owen 3-3 tie game.

The third period from an outside eye didn’t seem to have any highlights but in the Vindico Arena there were plenty of moments in the third.

Plenty of hits from each players, lots of cross checking too, which appeared to be non-calls. Unless you’re Collin Shirley.

Personally Crawford went down very easily for a push in the back. The final five minutes of the game, Devils were all over Flyers but those #PeskyFlyers once again found a way to hold on and seal a point!

OT it is then. Flyers get caught playing blatantly with four players, the ref then hesitates to call it then eventually does call a ‘too many men’ penalty on Flyers.

In all honesty, it couldn’t not be called by the referees. Devils called a timeout, a great power play by the Devils but an even better penalty kill by the Flyers. Teams are then playing 4 v 4 hockey, due to the completed PK by Fife.

It was end to end hockey with it going down to a penalty shootout between Fife and Cardiff once more this season. Fife took the win.

Flyers now make it a three game winning streak and seemed to have peaked at the right moment. Tom Coolen yet again getting the most out of his players.

Shane Owen had a tremendous night once again for Fife, as I said earlier in the week. The old pre-injury Shane Owen is back, at the right time for Flyers.
A 94% save percentage for Flyers meant a very deserving of MOTM.

But a massive shoutout has to go to Alexsi Makela! Once again being the defensive anchor for Fife, 5 blocked shots on the night.

Jordans Three Stars from the Weekend