League Record So Far; 12 – 3 – 0, 24pts, 1st Place
It was a memorable night for Devils fans as their team comfortably destroyed their rivals from six unanswered goals and a performance that will live long in the memory, as the club celebrated 1000 GP for captain Mark Richardson in all EIHL competitions for the Devils.
It was an affair of how will the rivals shape up with so many knocks and injuries across both benches, especially the goalies. Newly acquired emergency cover Jere Huhtamaa, had a baptism of fire in the Welsh capital, with the home crowd leaving their visitors in awe of a real match night experience, European style.
The loud, amped up crowd were ready for this clash, as if a pack of baying wolves sensed the blood of its prey. The reigning champions were there for the taking and they were decimated.
No mercy was given, no quarter left contested and no nonsense taken by the good guys as they put the sword to the wounded bodies of their foes, delighting their home crowd and collecting a valuable pair of points, consigning the Steelers to their first back to back league defeats since March 2023 (22/23 season).
The home team once again highlighted their scoring depth, with 6 different scorers, from all 4 forward lines once again contributing and the defense also putting up a marker here and there.
On top of the goal scorers, 16 different skaters collected at least a point from the Devils bench, making this a complete performance offensively.
Bowns, who was correctly predicted in the build up, got the start for such a high profile game, was immense in net. However in the last few moments of the game, the visitors capitalised on some break downs in communication and positioning to finish the game 6:3, despite the sheer dominance against them.
He ended the night with a 92.11 SV% from 38SOG, amazingly, as the visitors got desperate in the last stretch to get something from the game.
His 35 saves overall helped to keep the pressure mounted on the embattled Steelers, leaving them exposed, rudderless and completely out of their depth.
If there is a playbook to compete with and beat them, then review the last couple of games these two teams have played.
The opening frame set the tone for the night and effectively wrote the ending of the game as Devils soared ahead 3 zip on 18 SOG to 9. The Steelers battled their way back throughout the game, but this opening stanza put them under heavily and the home team never looked back.
Two quick fire goals to start the 2nd dance effectively put the game to bed and the Steelers had no answer. Once the 6th went in, it felt like it was game over. This is when they tried to tilt the game back, finding the net on the PP and from some broken plays in front of Bowns.
This wasn’t close to how the game was controlled.
The good guys were locked in defensively, the blue liners able to retrieve and reset for their forwards, the forecheck over powered the Steelers defence with ease and their goalie couldn’t withstand the onslaught.
Their own captain was easily turned over, often mishandling passes and offered near catastrophic giveaways at key moments of the game.
If it wasn’t for Balmas (9S, +1G) and Watling (7S, +1A), who continued to grind and grind, this game would have been an even larger rout.
Devils dominated away from the shot counter too, as they went 55% overall on face offs compared to Steelers 45%. 30 wins on the dots for the home team helped to set up, control and dictate the pace of the game.
The pressure was relentless but not for a full 60, with more hockey this weekend approaching, that was to be expected, however, focus needs to remain the same.
There was a considerable amount of high danger chances both ends of the ice, with Devils around 1.01xG from this area but failed to convert, with 3 goals from the mid slot area and two just off the short side, the point blast from MacWilliam being the furthest out.
The combinations of attack and varieties of goals scored, once again proves that this team is one of the highest skilled offensively. Just need it to come together on the PP.
Devils slipped to 8th overall, with Steelers frog jumping them into 6th, offsetting their positions on the PP overall at the start of the night. The PK however, saw them drop to 2nd overall behind Stars with 88.37%. Steelers are still 8th overall at 73.33%.
One notable absentee from the roster still was the myth that has become the existence of Hunter Shinkaruk. Perhaps there is a new intern that dons a grey beanie hat indoors and appears observant of the action on the ice, who knows at this point, perhaps a Mandela effect.
Three Stars vs Steelers
Third Star; Mark Richardson, 1000th EIHL comp game, 1 Assist, +2
Second Star; Ben Davies, 1G – Goal of the Game
First Star; Josh MacDonald, 1G, 1A
Up Next, Road vs Storm
Devils travel to an old foe again, this time in league action, as they take on strugglers Storm, in another important game for 2 points. The last meeting saw Devils skate away 3:2 winners at home.
So far, there have been entertaining battles between the two sides and with the hosts 1 – 0 – 4 in their L5GP, they will be desperate to turn things around again.
However, following a massive win vs the reigning champions at home and a more settled environment for their team, the potential addition of the mythical Shinkaruk might add some spice and problems for the Storm back line and goalie, Weninger.
It is a tale of how two defences are prepared, as there is a 30 goal differential between them in terms of goals conceded, Devils with the leagues best defence (31) vs Storm at 2nd bottom with 71GA.
A net positive for the home team is that they can score goals. Where Devils have returned to a 4.00 GFA, Storm are 5th with 3.23 GFA, but against the leagues best defensive team, with the good guys rolling a 2.07 GAA, they will need to be sharp on net.
This might be hindered by Storms recent discipline record, with 13.15 PIMs/Game, they will need to reign in their urge to get overly confrontational, with Devils a respectable 3rd in the league.
The last game saw a wild and bizarre call to eject Brandt for a check to the head, which racked up the PIMS of that clash, however, there was no further action from DOPS as it wasn’t even near an illegal hit.
Players Joe Morrow and Tyler Hinam each have 35 PIMS, with Loren Ulett just shy of 30. So anything could happen in this game, which would either be a low scoring affair or a mad race to finish on top, no holds barred and scrappy.
Ones to Watch
Grant Hebert; the forward has been clutch since arriving in Manchester, with 18 points in 13GP in the league so far. A rare real of light for a misfiring season overall, as they languish in 8th.
Zach O’Brien; He continues to find the way on to the scoresheet and for good reason. Also on 18 points in 15GP, he has been a constant presence for his team. If he manages to get on the board again in this game, that would be 5 games straight.
Falling Stocks
It is not just about the production to know who has stood out. Some players do all the work for no reward and have found themselves in a funk.
Tyler Busch is one of them. Just a single point in his L5GP, where 18 goals have been scored across all lines.
Managing 6 shots in that stretch, all on net, he has found himself adrift of the goal scoring. His work has been elsewhere, such as blocked shots (5) and dominating on the dots (56.4%), but it would be a huge lift for him to get back on the scoresheet before long.
Saturday against Storm is the perfect place to make that comeback.
Will he, won’t he?
This is the question on every Devils fans’ lips of late and highly speculated here. It was a game missed for sure without Shinkaruk midweek but goes to say that the coach clearly felt the team he had was enough to put away their title rivals with ease.
Which was correct.
I do expect him to play this weekend, question being, at the cost of which import?
I will leave that up for debate.
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