Preview vs Giants

League Record So Far; 34 – 11 – 3, 71pts, 2nd Place

Cardiff Devils host the Giants in a top table clash that could see the 2nd spot clinched by the good guys, as Giants look to build up some momentum for the playoffs and push to close the points gap between them and their hosts.

The last time these two rivals met, Giants were embarrassed at home in a double header victory for the Devils, that allowed them to control the series so far. Prior to that, each side took a road a victory, so can Devils complete their series this week against formidable but often absent opponents?

Tale of The Tape

As mentioned, Devils control this one and need just a point to secure 2nd. They lead 3:1 on this series and currently outscore their visitors 15:12, which makes for a very tense affair in Cardiff Bay later this evening.

Devils L5GP sees them with a decent 4 – 0 – 1 record, despite a huge shootout win in their last game, to maintain a very respectable home record, currently undefeated in regulation on home ice in 2024, particularly in this home stand. This will be the last of the 6 game home stanza before a trip north to champions, Steelers on Saturday.

Contrast to their visitors, the forlorn Giants have been building form of late but have since scuppered it with games needing extras more than once and seeing their L5GP as 3 – 1 – 1.

Special Teams

This will be a key focus as their last game saw all Giants goals through on the power play, which shattered at the time, the leagues best PK record. Since, Devils had been building it back up again, but their last game saw 3 PPGs and a shorty on the special teams watch. This will be an area both will look to capitalise on.

Devils are 2nd again with 27.4% on the power play, with Giants 8th overall at 19.23%. For the PK, Devils slumped again, this time to 4th overall at 79.19% and their opponents 5th with 77.56%.

This is a key area they will look to exploit.

The reason being is that either way, both teams prop up the worst discipline records overall, being 10th and 8th respectively. Will this factor in on the night?

Battle Between the Pipes

Wall is looking set to start this clash instead of Bowns, who has been stellar of late. Bowns appeared to pick up a knock on Sunday vs Panthers and was swapped for his back up.

Wall has 11 wins in 15GP in regular season with a respectable 2.61 GAA and a 91.29SV%.

His expected opponent across the ice is Jackson Whistle, who has a similar amount of game time, with 17GP, collecting just 9 wins for his team. His performance however looks more favourable with a 1.88 GAA and 93.02SV%. He has also conceded 9 goals less on marginally less shot faced in comparison to Wall.

The drama on net will likely be heightened if they are facing a man advantage. Brandon Alderson has been cooking on the PP of late, he is one off the team leader Goal Sanford (7) with 6 PPGs. He is one of two with that number, but the GOAT is absent from the game sheet.

Only Tedesco (6) is near to them, so each team will have to manage and deal with opposing threats throughout.

Ones to Watch

Goal Sanford returned to the lamp lighting procession in his last game, securing two more tallies for his efforts this season, currently at 3rd overall with 54 points, with 27 goals, three from the league leading 30 by Spencer Haas.

Again, Tedesco is the Giants main man, but way off in comparison to the player he was intended to replace. With 42 points, he is also way off on his last seasons performance with Flames, hitting 80 points over that impressive campaign.

Expected Absentees

Josh Waller is still on the LTIR and Tyler Busch is still missing from the line up but no definitive word yet on his injury.

Ully recently picked up a knock as was anticipated to return this past weekend and a notable absentee on the game sheet is Joey Martin, with no updates yet on them.