Weekend Preview; Flyers at Home, Steelers on the Road

League Record So Far; 26 – 10 – 5, 57pts, 3rd Place

L10GP; 5-4-1

CARDIFF, WALES – Fife Flyers arrive in town to battle against a team needing a big win, whilst facing issues galore and no hope for a silver lining just yet, before Devils hit the road to face off against a determined, wounded Steelers team that also needs to get its own house in order, as the season is quickly ending at pace.

There is much riding on these games, for all teams involved, as both of their opponents also face off vs the league leaders Giants, who dispatched Devils on home ice last weekend.

That defeat opened up the highway to march toward another title, back to back for their rivals, meaning that each point is crucial, especially when against top tier opposition and a club that is on borrowed time in the EIHL.

A defeat in any capacity would firmly cement the club to a title-less finish for the 7th straight season, just weeks after a roll call by the club GM/Owner Todd Kelman, announcing a hike in game day ticket prices and steep ST prices for the following season.

Expectations are higher than ever

A game without a large scoring margin against a struggling Fife outfit would all but compound the true quality of the the roster for the Devils and if they also succumb on the road again to Steelers, it would see them head for another season at 4th and a familiar tale for the fans of the South Wales club.

As mentioned in an article earlier this week, https://hockeysteve.co.uk/2026/02/24/the-final-run-in-what-cardiff-devils-need-to-do/ the team really needs to dig deep and put the past few weeks behind them, resharpen their resolve and forge their own narrative.

Devils have won just twice in their last 5GP, ranking at 7th overall across that space. One point ahead of Fife and 4 behind Steelers.

Their last regulation win was vs Fife on the road, ending 4:2, in that slate of games, they also lost vs Steelers at home. These return fixtures are pivotal to reset the tone, regroup and mount another charge, much like they did at the start of the season.

In terms of production across that recent 5 game period, Devils are outscored by both of their opponents, 3 less than Flyers and 13 less than Steelers, who have hit a perfect GFA of 5 per game, where as Devils languish with just 2.4

Devils’ current season average is at 3.41, whilst the league average is at 3.1, which Fife is there or there about on recent results.

Despite being up at this stage of the year compared to last season by 13 goals, they have done this with considerably more players being healthy, without missing key forwards and production.

Reality checks are needed

Coach Paul Thompsons’ statement in a post-game interview a few weeks back, regarding Sanford and Yaremko being out with injuries as ’40-goals a season missing up there’ simply wasn’t up to snuff.

Perhaps an overvaluation of a known forward who is an elite playmaker and an unknown forward who only managed 0.67 points per game in his pro career outside of the EIHL.

Across those games (AHL, ECHL, DEL2) he played exactly 100 games, scoring just 26. Across 18 total EIHL games with the Devils, Yaremko has netted 4 times.

That is a 0.22 scoring rate, lower than his previous which was at 0.26, respectively. He is not a multi-goal scorer, which overall is at 0.25 chance of scoring per game.

This isn’t a character assassination or a swipe at the club and staff. Just a reality check to measure expectations.

There are plenty of tools available for the coach to demand more from his team, even at this late stage, they are within reach and if results go their way, it would be a mouth watering finale to round off what has been a largely positive campaign.

Who to lean on

Josh MacDonald is a still hot, despite dropping games here and there. Since the last back to back games without logging a point, he has put up 11 in 10GP.

Brandon Estes has also hit some seriously hot form of late. Matching his streak before the disastrous Scottish triple header series. He has logged points in his last 8 games straight, putting up 13 points across this stretch.

One other player who has had a career best season to date, is Ryan Barrow. He has been off and on in terms of production, but like MacDonald, putting up 8 points across the last 11GP (since Jan 18th). He is one goal away from tying his best overall in regular season in the EIHL, needing 6 more points to tie those seasons at 32.

At 0.72 points per game, he should just about manage this.

Goal Tending

With Ben Bowns out due to injury in the last few weeks it was left up to rookie back up, Christian Stoever to shore up the defence and earn his team some wins.

Although the results haven’t panned that way in terms of gold, he has put in performance after performance, earning Save of the Week by the EIHL for last week’s performance against Panthers.

Devils losing hasn’t been down to bad defence or poor net minding, they win as a team as much as lose as one. With scoring tendencies drying up, so does the expected chance of gaining a win, no matter how much you pepper the opposing net.

For this final stretch, with limited home games left, it is now imperative for those skaters to thank their goalies for being incredible all season to help them cement vital wins by lighting the lamp the opposite end and finish this campaign strong before playoffs.

3 Keys to the Game vs Fife

1. Quick zone entries

Much of the production issues that have faced the Devils all season is not gaining the zone at speed, then using that advantage to put the goalie under pressure.

Now is time to be a little more selfish and not just forecheck, carry at pace, quick shot on net, collect the rebounds, recycle, repeat. Force the Flyers into errors and capitalise on them.

2. Smarter passing

When the zone isn’t gained with speed, or when the attack breaks down, the panic sets in. Then comes the no look passes, blind back handers, giveaways and odd man rushes the other way.

Taking time when in possession to find a smarter pass, tape to tape is key to maintaining the kind of control the team enjoyed up until 2026. This also means no high danger stretch passes, if it is too risky, look for an easier outlet.

Far too often an easy pass to one or two players is available, instead, the puck is hoofed up the boards, errantly toward the blue line, getting pinched, closed down or gifting a free snipe at their own net.

3. Re-tool the power play

Fife Flyers have a better power play than the Cardiff Devils.

This should be burned into the psyche of every player in that locker room until they are find a way to make it click.

Opting to drop Estes, despite his point streak is a must to reinvigorate the one element that has become an infected achilles heel to this team.

5 on 5, one of the best puck moving, mobile defence-men this team has had since Fournier, even a step up on Crow (Marcus Crawford), except, both of those players, one currently on the roster, worked the power play to a higher level.

Utilising Fournier as mentioned in the last article, with Brandt, Sanford, Martin and MacDonald combines flexibility, compete, shooting and elite puck movement. However, moving with and without the puck is key.