Playoff Preview vs Stars

Quarter Final 1st Leg

CARDIFF, WALES – The initial first leg for the 2024 playoff quarter final takes place at Vindico Arena this Saturday night, in an eagerly anticipated clash with Scottish rivals, Dundee Stars.

The league series left no doubt which team was the strongest, with Devils dominating their series overall against 7th placed Stars, who finished joint points with their fierce rivals, Fife Flyers on the final game of the regular season.

Devils swept their opponents in regular season games scoring 33 goals and conceding 18 along the way. So definitely expect some goals.

Their last two games ended 6:3, with a game average of 8.5 goals – if you are a betting person, those look like good odds if the bookies have set things right.

As we know, in playoff hockey anything goes, however with the rate of success heavily favouring Devils, one can only predict a comfortable bracket for them at this stage.

Stars can score, averaging just 3 goals, whereas Devils are likely to score +5 against them. Without Carr in net, Brine will have his work cut out for him. Brine has a 4 GAA and SV% of 88.93.

This would be a huge challenge for the young goalie who has a tough task ahead of him with some of the leagues best goal scorers looking to book their place to the finals.

Both teams boast a +20% on the power play, sitting 2nd and 4th respectively. For the PK, Devils have a slightly stronger performance with 79.87% and Stars at 78.18%. As this suggests, there isn’t a lot between them on the special teams, which means the goalies will need to be dialled in.

This is especially crucial, as both teams have the worst PIMS/Game records in the league, so when you factor in the last couple of games, the chances for a feisty, chippy encounter should be high, if not expected.

Focus across both benches would be key and following final regular season day at home disappointment for the top seed, you can expect this to be a very thorough affair with an aim to stack the advantage before travelling north to Dundee on Sunday.

It is expected to be another Hell Out for the home team, with a lot riding on this game, as all fans of the club want silverware. This years playoffs is their last hope at something attainable after being dumped out of the challenge cup by another Scottish team, the disappointing Glasgow Clan.

With the league wrapped up and Steelers already holding two pieces of silverware, this is the only hope to stop them being a 2nd consecutive EIHL club to claim a grand slam.

They recently demolished the spirited Flyers in their practice pad to go north as well and finish the business for the POFW. They currently hold a 9:4 aggregate advantage. This is a benchmark.

Of course, IIHF Bronze was collected back in February for the Continental Cup, but that was seen as a missed opportunity rather than new fortune gained. Thoughts about European participating will circle again post-season for sure, but for now, its make or break time for this ambitious team and their coach.

Expected Line Ups

Where there has been a few absences of late, the last couple of weeks has been building for some players to return, in the mean time, the forwards have been running short benched and the defense has been fully loaded with 7. Although, game time, this may have affected one particular player, along with an expected utility forward.

River Rymsha up until the last game logged just 5 then 9 minutes of TOI, but Pietroniro though named, didn’t feature much as the forwards group was shortened during this stretch.

I would fully expect one of both of these players to be dropped, with the additions of Tyler Busch and Cole Ully to be back in the line up to get these games done and dusted.

Cox – Martin – Sanford

Ully – Arniel – Barrow

Alderson – Busch – Crandall

Brandt – Davies – Duggan

Crawford – Mosey

Richardson – Donaghey

Batch – Wilde

Bowns

Wall