Preview vs Giants

League Record So Far; 21 – 7 – 2, 44pts, 2nd Place

Devils host league leaders Giants in a must win clash that could be a pivotal flashpoint in the outcome of the season for both teams and the league as a whole.

Devils’ road clash with Flyers was cancelled the day before, with damage to the roff of their rink forcing the travelling team to u-turn and head home, as the Giants hosted the belligerent Blaze, that went to a nail biter of a shootout, to claim max points before braving the weather to face off against what many would have thought were champions-elect.

The Big Story

This scenario and game is a crucial reminder that this league isn’t won this early, nor does having an advantage of games in hand or a mountain of points. In very rare cases, two teams could be vying for the title, without giving up many games but the winner could still win by a country mile or in even rarer cases, settled by tie-breaking systems.

This game is everything, so hopefully it will have everything, including good game management by the officials.

Last nights game vs Blaze for the visitors saw a slew of minor penalties given, 28 in total, to the frustration of teams and fans, alike.

The clashes between these two rivals often throw up either a tightly checked, tense affair or a game that fades away due to over reactive calls for minimal or even clean contact hits.

The message here is, it is a key moment in the season for the league – let them play.

Teams on Top

Giants have won 6 of their last 7GP, that one a SOL, so still managed to scavenge points on the road, that added to their totals over the last few weeks.

In their L10GP, they have a 8 – 1 – 1 record, accumulating 17 points. No wonder they are in fine form. They have also narrowly beaten their hosts both home and away, much to the annoyance of the home crowd.

Recently, Devils have also hit winning form, including a marquee title of their own, something the Giants had failed to do a few seasons ago, winning the IIHF Continental Cup.

This past week, Giants confirmed their SF opponents for the Challenge Cup, a ridiculous format for any professional competition, which means that soon they will face the Panthers and Devils will clash again with old enemies, the Steelers.

The route to the next pivotal stage of the season so far, starts tonight, at the Vindico Arena.

Devils have won their last 3 league games, as well as back to back wins in their European triumph for 5 straight, however in the league overall, their L10GP they have picked up 14 points with a 7 – 3 – 0 record. So, very similar to their visitors in terms of general form.

From going 3 games ahead of their rivals, they now sit 5 points behind. The implications are paramount, This game could see the eventual winner or at least set the leader to comfortable cushion for the business end of the campaign.

This is the first time Devils are chasing the league, a situation that was known to them at the start of their IIHF Final last week, but they won’t mind.

This presents a different mindset entirely. For once, they aren’t under pressure to grind out wins against inferior opposition (yes, that is fair to say) – this is a chance to put another team under pressure instead.

They will want this too. Their last game, went to OT, despite again controlling most of it and hardly touching the biscuit in the additional hockey, saw the visitors elated to the point it looked like they won the championship themselves. That is what it meant to them.

Which was voiced loud and clear from the stands to the ice, as the good guys, hung their heads in dejection.

Coming off the back of such a historic triumph, with fresh (ish) legs and perhaps the return for some key players soon, this team has the taste for success and will want to prove they can do the job when it matters, again.

How They Stack

There couldn’t be a more clear picture of how these two teams are currently the top two, as it transcends across most variables.

The most interesting part is the goalies, as Whistle loves to play in and beat Cardiff, often frustrating the entire organisation top to bottom, in and out. The hosts however, have a deep goalie pool to choose from, maintaining a firm grip on league leadership for most of the season.

The most telling variable, will be the PK. Devils still rule this with an iron first, even when not in league action and others had a chance to chip away at their position and PK% overall. There is a colossal difference between these two teams, so again, discipline, is key and that is not just down to the officials.

Devils are astoundingly at the bottom of that table with an average of 13PIMS/Game (8th) and Giants just above them with 11.25PIMS/Game. This goes back to unnecessary game ejections, where both clubs could argue the case for, however, how those game situations are managed is another thing.

Despite a better PK%, both teams have scored 3 times shorthanded as well.

Who is Hot?

It cannot be missed that Brett Perlini stepped up last week, however overall, it goes back to MacDonald again.

If I wouldn’t say Josh MacDonald, you would think of why. So, it is the Conti Cup MVP for his club, the current points leader of the EIHL (39) and goals leader (21), Josh MacDangle. 

As stated in the upcoming Match Night Programme vs Giants this Sunday, he has continued on his run of form, even with a game dropped recently vs Panthers, making for 28 points (16G, 12A) in the last 20GP in league action alone. 

Heater.

For the visitors, a player who keeps popping up and scoring in dribs and drabs, but consistently is Grant Mishmash (inspirational song material).

He is currently 5 points in 5GP, though not naturally, however he is a serious goal threat and can hold his own physically.

That is where the good guys lost their edge in the previous meeting, so expect players like this to be a nuisance for the evening.