Weekend Review; Honours Split as Devils Show Worth

League Record So Far; 28-12-5, 61pts, 4th Place

L10GP; 5 – 4 – 1

CARDIFF, WALES – Devils battled hard in Belfast to split the weekend, providing much needed respite from the growing concerns of its loyal fanbase, as well as fronting up what they can do along the way.

Here are some key moments from the weekend;

1. Riley Brandt first pro hat-trick

Considering his season so far, it would be a tough jog of the memory to learn that this was in fact, the first pro hatty the gritty depth forward has ever had.

After years of being smeared, misunderstood and utterly under-appreciated, Brandt has found himself skating out of his boots, outperforming higher paid players not just across his own roster, but amongst the leagues’ best as well.

His hat-trick heroics in the 2nd game of the weekend DH helped to keep his team in a match that was ultimately lost due to lack of discipline and stepping off the pedal.

It also served as a timely reminder that he is so much more than just a 4th line grinder that will successfully stick up for his team mates.

He can snipe.

After going goalless for 7 straight games, he improved to 17 goals in regular season action, the most of his career. Joint second on the squad with Cole Sanford, who has an anticipated down-year, in terms of production.

In fact, after that game, he now has more than all seasons combined for regular season goals.

2. Barrow continues to chip in

It was a season with intent for Ryan Barrow, who stated from his re-signing announcement that he didn’t like his game last season and wanted to step up this time around.

We heard it before from Justin Crandall, who impressed so much he earned the ‘A’, unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to retain his services.

For Barrow, he has repaid the faith in him in full and has been a man possessed all season.

After the weekends’ tallies, he is now just 2 points shy from his best overall in regular EIHL action at 30, with a brace of goals in the Saturday match up win now counting for his most in his own pro career (14).

With 9 games left to go for the regular season, he is projected to 36 points. Not particularly impressive to shout about, but an improvement overall, with a better foundation to build from.

3. Sanford found his form

Although not a natural streak, he has now gone 4 goals in his last games after finding his own brace of goals on the first night in Belfast, helping his team cruise to a 5-2 victory for the first time since 2024.

His efforts across the weekend have given him 5 points in his last 5 games, albeit in dribs and drabs, such as his season so far.

At this stage he has 34 points, 5th overall on his team, projected to 42 points for the full season, which is on course for his lowest return yet, confounding the trend as being in regression since Trevor Cox retired.

4. Season series wrapping up

Following the challenging DH at Giants, they have finished their season series with a 3:3 split, thanks to a big win on night one. Losing twice on the road doesn’t seem as bad, considering their struggles on the road vs their title rivals overall.

With one game left vs Steelers, they are looking to snap a 3 game skid vs their other rivals, this time at home following a spate of losses to the other guys near Nottingham.

A win would abate their record, which was pretty positive, but as this season rolled on, Steelers stepped it up, wanting to win these games more. Currently it is at 1-3-1, so a win to save face and derail their rivals’ own title push is what counts at this tail end of the campaign.

Finally, the battle vs Panthers has been raging for a few seasons now, with the ‘curse’ seemingly perished. They haven’t lost in regulation in Nottingham this season, including the cup. Despite their strong start there, they wilted with just a single win needed and somehow, Panthers are in their 2nd final under Danny Stewart.

With two more meetings to go, the series in the league stands at 2-1-1, with one more win needed to edge the series.

5. 9 goals scored, confidence gained?

Amongst the backdrop of the results, at the start of any season if you told any Devils fan there would be a split weekend in Belfast, they would take it.

It was a shame it wasn’t the full compliment, however, Giants played a solid enough game and took their chances against Devils mistakes, to make good for their own victory.

They essentially began their title charge and defence when they defeated Devils in Cardiff a few weeks ago.

Since the new years, Devils have struggled offensively.

There were 4 players inside the top 10 for points up until that point and despite not really managing 1st overall for what happened to be a short period of time, they were also the first to 100 goals in the EIHL regular season and were the highest scoring-wise.

Now, there are just 2 inside the top 20 overall.

Som has this weekend been a much needed morale boost and confidence maker?

Sanford with a brace of goals, MacDonald in on the action with 2 across the DH, Barrow with a brace, Brandt with a hat-trick.

You would hope so. However, that was all the scoring done and dusted.

MacDonald got the final goals, one an ENG and the other with too little left after one against on a 6v5 play.

More would be needed to chip in, but at least the most highly regarded forwards are getting rewards for their high shot production.

Take away Brandt and even Barrow, the team would have lost both and maintained their trend.

With just 9 games left until the world’s shortest hockey playoff series, the hope is that they can send them in and finish the season as strong as they played in Belfast.