League Record So Far; 27-11-5, 59 pts, 3rd Place
L10GP; 5 – 4- 1 (11 from 20 points)
CARDIFF, WALES – Devils fell in Sheffield for the second time in under a month, coming off slightly worse this time around, just hours after comfortably cruising to a home ice win vs Flyers.
Following their last home game for a few weeks, as they soon travel to Belfast for an eagerly anticipated double header, the preparation has taken a wrong turn, with some wheels already looking compromised before they arrive at their destination.
Here is a break down of the weekend games;
1. Compete levels missing
Even with a 5 nothing dub at home, it still felt like there could have been more. The thought process would have indicated a preservation of energy for the next game, so slotting in a ‘professional’ effort was all that would have been needed.
It came across as so. A shutout, 5 goals scored, no injuries or suspensions – what isn’t there to like?
The power play was largely unchanged and reflected the effort – no conversion.
The PK was stable, but far from convincing.
A lot of giveaways and no look passes.
Against a stronger outfit, the score line might have been different, even the outcome.
Cue Sheffield.
Outcome was indeed different, the score line almost the complete opposite.
No clinical finishing, especially on rebounds, as the night before, which lead to a creeping anxiety that this group has lost its focus.
This was echoed on the post-gamer by Thompson, who bemoaned the lack of determination his team had up until at least a month ago.
In truth, it has been much longer.
Battles for loose pucks, turnovers and man marking, all disappeared, with no indication any player wanted to turn it around.
It must have been exhausting to watch from the bench, let alone for those who travelled.
2. Sanford hits a double vs Flyers
He has missed a bunch of games due to a lower body injury, however even before then, he wasn’t hitting the back of the net at any prolific pace.
The game vs Flyers saw him return a brace of goals for the first time since November 28th vs Flames. That was a hat trick. The only other time in regular season this campaign was against Giants a couple of weeks earlier.
He also had 3 games with more than one scored last season, including the semi final in the playoffs.
The season prior to that, he had 9 multi-goal games. The decline is real.
Seeing him hit a brace was great to witness, he needed it. The hope was that it would carry into the next game, however that failed to materialise.
He fired off less attempts, with just 5 games this season as standouts of 10 or more in one game.
His shooting accuracy dropped to 40% from 71.4% between the two games. A sharp drop off for his standards, which is roughly at 63% overall.
What this did indicate was in a snap shot, this highlighted the ups and downs of a Devils season. Where there are highs, there will be lows and it is never sustained long enough to make a significant impact for the better.
3. Ryan Barrow becoming untouchable
He has had one of his best seasons to date and is not far off eclipsing his best, which were his initial efforts for both Devils and Storm.
The only caveat was that when he joined from Storm, it was following an injury and he matched those numbers with 20 more games played.
He is currently on 28 points, just 4 from levelling those seasons and is on a natural 4 game point streak. Since January 18th, he has just dropped points from 3 games, earning 10 from 13.
He is projected to 35 points, with potentially 15 goals scored, which would be his best in the EIHL yet.
4. Record vs Big 3 Rivals falling away
Last season there was some questionable and lamentable performances against their biggest rivals, but none so much as on the road, where they didn’t log a single victory at any of those barns.
This season however, they started in earnest.
Wins in Nottingham, Sheffield and victories vs Belfast at home set a very encouraging precedent. Had the new coach found a way?
Their first 6 clashes vs those teams results in 5 – 1 – 0 record, earning 10 out of 12 points.
It set the tone for the first half of the season.
They ended up top of the league after leap frogging Panthers at Christmas, becoming the first team to net 100 goals in regular season, earning the right to the be highest scoring team in the league.
Immediately after that however, saw a dramatic flip the other way.
In the next phase of 6 meetings, which was in fairness, Steelers heavy, they have conceded what was a spirited arm wrestle of the ages, after momentarily taking control of the tussle.
Their record as it stands this season is now 1-3-1. Just one victory and an OTL for points vs Steelers. The season series has been obliterated to who is now 2nd placed.
Following the DH this coming weekend vs Giants, they have just 3 games left against their nearest rivals, all at home, completing their season series’ vs Steelers and Panthers.
The overall record for the following 6 games after December 6th 2025 has been a catastrophic 0-4-2. Just 2 points from an available 12 and 12 from 24 in total, until last weekend vs Steelers.
There is a familiar feeling building and the acceptance of no return following the DH this weekend has already begun across much of the fanbase.
Analysing the coaches’ comments in the post game interview on Sunday, it seems there has been a creeping sense of indifference in the locker room, a ‘woe is me’ mindset and an arrogance to how they can play.
All things already picked up on from across the last 12 months on this platform.
You inherit habits, you retain them.
It seems that this coach at least has finally found this out and ended up calling the team out, as well as addressing a concern there are ‘passengers’ on this roster.
So, as with a call to arms across last week – the time is now to prove themselves or face a high chance of getting cut from the organisation when the season is done.
The coach appears to be, aghast at the 180 flip since December (again).
For the final slate of 6 games, it has already started with a loss. Just one more game vs Steelers (H), x2 vs Panthers (H) and the tricky prospect of the DH vs Giants (A).
Minimum 3 wins required to lock in a top 3 finish should be the root focus. The question is, do they have the capacity to do that?
5. Injuries confirmed, would they be a factor for the final 11 games?
Coach Thompson confirmed there were injuries to the players who sat out this past weekend, meaning MacDonald (38 pts), Kontos (33 pts) and Yaremko might also be missing for a vital weekend.
With the formers’ point per game pace, they would have likely factored in on the scoresheet, possibly two each at a push.
Considering this team got utterly man handled last year, on top of an embarrassing cup final ‘effort’, the sting they could have been bringing looks to be weaker than they wanted.
The dismal display executed in Sheffield have exposed them to be unready and demonstrably disinterested now they are 9 points behind the league leaders.
After that, they have to finish the campaign, which means requiring the energy to do so.
Their record against the rest of the opposition is favourable. Already a season series win vs Blaze with 3 shutouts in 4 games, undefeated.
Against Storm, they have picked up a single OTL, with wins the other way for a 4-0-1 record. A win there would keep Storm at bay, who have qualified for playoffs against the odds, sitting 5th and 9 points from 3rd.
After a shock defeat in the middle of a disastrous Scottish foray, they have held their own vs Stars, earning a 3-1-0 record with a shutout. They host Stars in a home DH, which the home fans would expect nothing more than 4 points.
Finally, a resurgent Clan, who have dealt this team early defeats this season, going to a 3-1-1 record. One game left, either win or tie the series.
There are 6 games left across that slate of games, considering their positions, they won’t be easy. All but Stars are guaranteed playoffs to end their respective campaigns, the hardest part for the Devils is to solidify their season with a respectable outcome.
If they manage wins over those teams and at least 3 from the final 5 against their biggest rivals, that could land them 18 points and be in a strong position to finish 2nd overall.
Any points returned from Belfast would be a bonus.
Projected Player Points for Full Season
Projected Standings for EIHL Full Season as of March 2nd 2026
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