Cup Progress So Far; 4-3-0, 8pts, 3rd Place
CARDIFF, WALES – Devils host group A leaders Steelers before hitting the road vs 2nd placed Panthers in a showdown that will determine the standings and positions for progression into the knock out stages of the challenge cup.
Steelers currently lead, with a game in hand over Panthers by a fine margin, with 6 wins (3OT, 3 regulation) over Panthers’ five.
Panthers await Devils on Sunday, for their final game of the group stage, looking to win and provide themselves a strong enough finish to hold out against the chasing pack.
A win for Devils would see the gap close, two wins would see them level on points with a game to spare over Panthers and Steelers.
There are a lot of scenarios that could factor for the top 3, without having to address the charge from the other half of the group.
As far as early tests go, for all three top teams, this is the first major flash point of the season.
As Things Stand
Picture gathered from EIHL Official Website
With remembering the magic numbers to avoid (4 losses), Devils are teetering very close to danger, with 3 tough games to spare that could also see them in a position to progress.
To say this group is on a dime, is an understatement.
Record Keeping
Devils have a perfect home record, extending back to February 2026, however, form vs Steelers from the past year hasn’t been convincing.
In total across the league and cup from last season to this weekend, Playoff Final aside, there have been 9 games and only 3 victories for the Devils vs Steelers.
A win here, would certainly provide a boost to the team and increase their chances going forward.
However, vs Panthers their form is greatly improved by comparison, with just 2 regulation defeats across the last 9 match ups.
Both of those however, came at home. Conversely, their road record vs Panthers has also improved, with 3 of the last 4 at Nottingham ending with victories for the Welsh outfit.
So, when one metric improves, another goes the opposite, in typical fashion, such is sport.
There are also head to head match ups to consider. Having lost to Steelers already puts them under further pressure, with this being the biggest test at home of the season.
Against Panthers, they have a victory head to head, so doubling down that way, might be the best path to progression for the group.
Up First, The Steelers
Sheffield Steelers L5GP; 3-2-0
Steelers have had some inconsistent results of late, including within the cup, winning just 50% of their last ten combined EIHL games.
On the road in the cup, they are also 50%, with one needing more than regulation to settle the score.
This early inconsistency has brought in expected criticism and concern, making them very similar to nearly every other club in the league, especially for injuries.
They are likely going to be without their go to leaders, Gerwyn ‘The Ice Man’ Price, aka, Mitchell Balmas and EIHL Face-Off Podcast Hero and Team GB legend, Robert Dowd this weekend, leaving some heavy doubts on seeing this stage through.
By nearly every metric, Steelers are 2nd overall in the cup save for their PK, which sits at seventh with 75%.
Next, Road vs Panthers
Nottingham Panthers L5GP; 4-0-1
Panthers have had just as an exceptional home record as the Devils this season, dropping one from six across both EIHL competitions.
As for their cup record, in their last 5GP, they have had just one SOL, vs Blaze last weekend.
They would be pretty confident of a win vs Devils on home ice to round off their cup group campaign, with hopes that would be enough to see them progress, especially as holders*.
However, as recent form suggests, perhaps the ‘curse of Nottingham’ has lifted for the Welsh club, as this would be a key fixture where they would need to focus on maximising their weight before they face their final opponent next month.
Panthers have the third best PP% (23.3) across the teams in the cup so far, of course, with the most games played and having a PP specialist in former Devil, Zach O’Brien.
That is level with Steelers on power plays gained (19), where as in comparison to Devils, they have had 16 PP chances and sit 6th overall with 18.75%, but trending upward thanks to their quick usage of late.
Each of the Steelers and Panthers have a player inside the top 10 for PPG’s in the cup, Panthers’ Corbeil leading with 3 goals.
Gleason Fournier (1 PPG) sits 20th overall.
Top Units
Panthers also host one of the most formidable top line units across the league, with Doherty – Pearson – O’Brien leading their charge, combining for 33 points in the cup with 12 goals.
Whereas for the Steelers, their top line of late, Balmas – Gettinger – Archambault, have combined for 16 cup points, collecting 5 goals.
Devils, by comparison, MacDonald – Martin – Olischefski, have combined for 20 points, collecting 8 goals. Competitive, but this line has only been rewarded in the last couple of weeks, so very promising to see how they would compete.
In order of top units, Panthers are 2nd best amongst the league, beaten only by the Giants, who have been supplied with a much more uneven contest in the cup.
Steelers rank 4th overall, behind Flames, who feature two former Devils (as well as ZOB for Panthers ahead of them).
Devils meanwhile, rank 8th for their top line, behind Stars and Flyers, however, that line was the second unit, despite being the most productive across this early season.
If the line up were left to believers and hopers, the Caron – Mieho – Barrow line would have only combined for 11 points and 2 goals from Barrow, ranking that the worst top line overall, if it continued.
Sanford (10) and O’Brien (11) have had strong starts to their season, even Perlini (4pts in 5GP) in the cup alone, detailing that players lost have not been recovered and likely, never will to date.
Nearly 20% of the season has been played this far, so scrutiny is absolutely warranted.
If it wasn’t for injuries and illness, there might have been some interesting scratches or complete cuts from the roster altogether.
Between the Pipes
Both Robson and Greenfield post strong GAA numbers, behind the Giants tandem at least, who of course, have had a far easier task with their opposition.
Group A is stronger not just by size, but also by team, featuring three of the top four clubs and 2 upstarts looking to improve up the ladder.
Aside from Bowns’ SV% at 92.52 (4th overall amongst goalies playing 4 or more games in the cup), Devils’ cup results have definitely affected the overall standings.
For regular season however, Devils lead the way.
If that recent form accounts for much, there should be a tantalising display of goal tending in both nets, across both games.
Devils however, are yet to win a road game in regulation so far across both EIHL competitions, claiming a single point. Their defensive structure and tactics have possibly become their weakest link to date.
Instead of marshalling the wings with a blue line trap, they opt for a total line collapse, even at 5v5, which has haemorrhaged goals against, exposing defensive flaws and players who switch off in the DZ incrementally.
Against the top teams on the PP and for lines with the strongest offensive outputs, this would be a key battle for the Devils.
Keys to the Weekend Ahead
1. Puck Retention
A common theme of late for the Devils, has been the inability to protect and distribute the puck. From corralling a pass to transition plays, they have become turn over machines.
Whether or not compete levels have been affected by a depleted roster playing through illness or injury is still no excuse for playing to the basics and fundamentals, especially in professional sports.
A further point, is to focus less on risky east-west passes outside the OZ, instead opting for quicker north-south transitions, then look to open up the opponents defence.
2. Skate
The team is renowned for its heavy forechecking, which has lessened of late. When any team stops skating, with or without the puck, they are rendered ineffective.
There are speedsters on the opposing teams who will sniff out structural weaknesses, will use their own pace as an advantage and will find space that would result to picking apart their opponents.
Keeping the puck and skating with their opponents would eliminate pressure through all situations, across all zones. The recent loss at Dundee is a prime example.
3. Improve Defensive Awareness
As already stated, the passive protect the slot tactic might limit some shooting lanes and even increase chances to block then recover and hit transitionally, the reality has been too much puck watching, not enough positional awareness and an abject lack of marking.
Having a compact defensive system is fine, but it risks leaving the point and perimeter wide open, with opportunities for rebounds to go straight back to net and often, goal.
Even with four OFD’s in the blue line set up, marshalling the zone and limiting zone entries with a 1-2-2 trap has worked best over the last 18 months.
As forwards seldom defend the perimeter, their utilisation could be operated in a much better system that allows one to track and force wide, into the passing lanes, forcing either a dump in or a turnover.
This way, the recovery and redistribution to open players behind the attacking formation can relieve and provide opportunities to flip the momentum quickly, as well as to quell pressure defensively.
How the Hosts Predicted
As per the EIHL Face-Off Podcast, this weekend saw a view that would largely reflect current form with known match ups leading the view.
Consensus looked for a Devils home win and a Panthers home win vs Devils. Which would require Devils to win their final match up vs Storm, on the road and luck for Steelers’ final game also.
What does the HockeySteve EIHL Match Predictor project?
Despite the predictor accounting for only regular season games, dated back to game one last season, it still provides key insights regardless.
Considering home form for the Devils, it comes as no surprised to see the heavy favourability baked into the database and thus predictor across approximately 300 EIHL regular season matches.
As for Panthers, they also have a favourable home record, particularly this season, but have played less in the league in comparison to Devils.
Surprisingly, Devils road win % is larger than expected, again, based on league results, Devils this season have lost once in OT, so perhaps for the purpose of the existing database, that adds a little more clarity for them.
Of course, this is a work in progress and geared for regular season only, however, it is far too tempting to not look at what the results could predict.
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