CARDIFF, WALES – It has been a hot minute since the Devils played the real stuff – regular EIHL season games in a quest for the elusive championship.
This weekend, they face off against both of last seasons’ losing playoff finalists, Manchester Storm, then Glasgow Clan.
It is a welcome refresh from challenge cup action, which has seen the club slip to .500 hockey in 6GP, a further loss would be the final swing of the axe, destination unknown.
Their visitors have had contrasting fortunes of late, more notably the Clan, who have managed just a single regulaiton win, however, vs Giants in the cup.
For the other, following a horrific and disastrous ‘homecoming’, Storm have found form in both the league and cup, currently leading the table with 4 points from 2 wins of 3GP. The latter, rock bottom.
This weekend heralds a 5 game home stand, of 8 home fixtures this month. Considering current form, it couldn’t have come at a better time.
There would also be a first start for new Devil, Jonas Emmerdahl, who was brought in as IR cover for their depleted blue line, a welcome and resourceful addition for the team.
It also worth noting, the term ‘homestand’ was rarely used in this league, the main source directly from here.
Ones to Watch
From the Storm, their most prolific player, Brandon Cutler (10pts), knows how to start proceedings in style, with a rampant start in their last meeting in the cup.
If healthy, then the Tim McGauley line would be looking to pounce, knowing that the Devils would be marshalling Cutler like demons out there on the ice.
He has 7 points in all EIHL competitions from 6GP, including 3 goals, mainly assisted by former Flyer, Anton Karlsson, it is only a matter of time before he launches on a big points streak.
He [Karlsson] put up 27 points from 24GP with Fife, before cutting his time prematurely.
No doubt, he would relish a chance to face-off against former club mate, Emmerdahl.
For the Clan, there is a surprising but welcome one to watch, in Cade Neilson. 9 points from 8GP in all competitions, he has certainly launched into action. Last season he notched 24 points, an increase of 10 on his previous season.
The rate he is on, he will far surpass this, which for many fans of UK hockey, is about time for the Neilson clan.
Form Watch
As mentioned, Devils form has them squarely at .500 hockey in the cup, but their home form takes them back to February 20th 2026, a run of 11 games (excluding the 4 in pre-season and Playoff finals).
Storm are close to the same form as Devils across both competitions in the EIHL, winning 4 from 7GP so far, sitting top of the league no doubt feels good, even at this very early stage.
Clan however, have lost all of their regular season match ups, facing Flames first on the road. A venue that has successful seen off the Devils, Panthers and Steelers.
On average in the league, Clan manage just a single goal, but for the first opponents, they narrowly lost twice at 2:1, so they may hope for something similar.
After 5 cup games, Clan have been taken to extra hockey for the first 3 games, winning just the lone game vs Giants in regulation. Further losses this weekend, might just be the tipping point up at Braehead.
Not every season is perfect, that is for sure.
On the road, neither team have had that much success, however, still better currently than Devils. The team have already beaten Storm in the cup, that loss aside for them, they have a 2-2-1 record, picking up 5 points from 10 on the road.
As for Clan, they have a single shootout win, an OTL and two further losses, picking up 3 points from 8 on the road.
In terms of scoring quality, so far Storm sit at 1.67 GF in the league, just over 2 goals shy compared to the larger cup sample so far.
It is a similar story for the Clan, who defensively, look to maintain a solid 3 goals against so far. They are yet to earn any power play success, which is refreshing for the Devils.
They (Clan) sit joint 9th overall in the cup on the PK, at 66.67%. Zero on the PP – a further hit to the Sirant Method.
Storm meanwhile sit 5th overall for both special teams in the cup and for the league, just 4th overall in the league, which is yet to see 3 final teams make their regular season starts this campaign.
Devils however, need to draw from their challenge cup efforts, sitting them at 7th overall.
Between them and their opponents, this weekend presents a few challenges for improvements.
Keys to the Weekend
1. Line Utilisation
Yes, the Devils are depleted currently, but it doesn’t offset a clear need for refreshing the lines. If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it is a known term – this does not apply here.
So far, the overall make up of the forwards unit hasn’t worked, so now is the opportune time to make best of their strengths.
Placing the likes of Caron on the 4th line, promoting Harewood to the third, joined by Mieho with Brandt would provide a punishing prospect to play against.
Emmerdahl would likely have a role as a 6th D, for now, if Richardson is good to play anyway.
2. Power play focus
Fournier has been quarter backing the PP again and for good measure, with Welsh added during the summer, this should have provided a lethal addition to improve things.
Again, trusting new players with little experience of that responsibility hasn’t paid off, so seeing Yaremko promoted with Barrow, MacDonald and the Goat has been a building block.
Allow it to cook, just keep moving forward with the puck.
3. Puck Management
This has been a sticking point, with some alluding to quality of ice as an issue. It however, only seems some players struggle, which defeats that angle.
Smooth passing, heads up play, puck protection outside the OZ and taking a slightly longer moment before deciding to throw it wayward would help retain possession, structure and composure.
Not that seasoned professionals should ever be reminded of that.
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