Woo hoo, midweek hockey as Manchester Storm come to town.
The Devils head into their final stretch of regular games, with Manchester Storm’s visit to the IAW the first of three games that will wrap up their schedule.
You’re going to be hearing the word ‘play-offs’ an awful lot from this point forward and you suspect they same can be said from inside the Devils’ locker room.
The championship is done, the trophy has been lifted, the corks have been popped, but between now and the end of the season the Devils’ focus will be on winning the play-offs.
The final three games make absolutely no difference to our league position but they will help shape the team going into the play-offs.
Patton Conference winner’s Manchester come into this game after a 4-3 shootout win over Nottingham on Sunday. Mike Hammond scored his 32nd goal of the season in that game and leads the league in total points (83). Mike Clemente made 26 saves. Storm are 5-8-2-0-0 in their last 10 games and Dane Byers is on an 11 game point-streak in which he has posted 16 points.
Last night’s result
NOT 2-1 FIF
Tonight’s schedule
MKL vs. BEL 7:00 PM
SHF vs. FIF 7:30 PM
MAN vs. CAR 7:30 PM
DUN vs. GUI 8:00 PM
Other stuff
Terry Philips reflects on the Devils last play-off triumph, back in 1999, in this really nice piece. (Dai-Sport)
What’s happening at the game tonight? (Cardiff Devils)
A new report claims that the EIHL’s average attendance of 2,678 rates the league amongst the top-ten best in Europe and Asia, with the Nottingham Panthers ranked 40th. In comparison, the NHL averages 17,414 spectators per game. (EIHL)
Manchester Storm head coach Ryan Finnerty wants his team to emulate the Devils’ success after winning the conference title. (Dai Sport)
A fifth-straight win for the San Jose Sharks boosts their hopes of making the post season after they saw off the New Jersey Devils at SAP Center last night, winning 6-2. With time running out, the Sharks – second place in the Pacific Division – have hit form at just the right time and are on a season high run of games. (NHL)
Finally, this power play effort against Dallas Stars from Alex Ovechkin saw the Washington Capital overtake Jari Kurri for 19th place on the all-time NHL goals list. Ovechkin has now scored a total of 602 career goals in the NHL.
Hockey Night in Wales 