Power forward Joey Haddad is ready to return for Cardiff Devils and could play in Thursday’s Elite League match against Fife Flyers in Scotland.

Canadian Haddad has recovered from an injury and warmed up before Devils’ 6-0 home win against Sheffield Steelers on Sunday.

“Joey is right there,” says head coach Andrew Lord. “He is ready and giving me tough decisions.

“For the first time in a while, touch wood, we are healthy. That makes my job difficult, but it also gives us options.”

Devils were without young forward Toms Rutkis against Steelers because he is on a two-way contract and played for Swindon Wildcats.

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Rutkis is likely to return against Fife in Kirkcaldy on Thursday and at home to Guildford Flames at the Viola Arena the following evening.

Devils are two points clear of rivals Belfast Giants at the top of Elite League with nine fixtures left.

Lord’s team have been crowned champions for the last two seasons and are pushing for a hat-trick of titles, although they have already qualified for the 2019-20 European Champions League.

“We’re in a dogfight,” said Lord. “This one is a real nailbiter.”

Goalie Ben Bowns kept two shut-outs for Devils in wins against Coventry Blaze (2-0) and Steelers (6-0) and Lord was delighted, saying: “Bowns was real solid and a lot of guys played on the PK team. Some, like Mark Richardson, played a lot, while some chipped in, like Gleason Fournier.

“Mark Louis, Bryce Reddick and Drew Sheistel played their part, Josh Batch played his part and the forwards did their jobs.

“There was good attention to detail in that area.

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“Jackson Whistle well for Steelers during the first period, while the second was one of our better periods. The pace was awesome and we were unstoppable at times.

“That resulted in a bunch of goals.”

Cardiff play their previously postponed game against Fife on Thursday and will go level on games played with second-placed Belfast.

Devils then play Guildford at home on Friday, while Belfast host Glasgow.

Friday, March 8: Cardiff Devils v Guildford Flames (7.30pm) Tickets

Challenge Cup holders Giants take on Flames in the 2019 final at Cardiff Bay’s Viola Arena on Sunday (4pm).

Elite League fixtures

Thursday, March 7: Fife Flyers v Cardiff Devils (7.30pm)

Friday, March 8: Belfast Giants v Glasgow Clan (7pm), Cardiff Devils v Guildford Flames (7.30pm).

Saturday, March 9: Milton Keynes Lightning v Coventry Blaze (7pm), Nottingham Panthers v Dundee Stars (7pm), Sheffield Steelers v Fife Flyers (7pm).

Sunday, March 10: Dundee Stars v Manchester Storm (5pm), Coventry Blaze v Milton Keynes Lightning (5.15pm), Fife Flyers v Sheffield Steelers (6.30pm).

Sunday, March 10: Challenge Cup final, Belfast Giants v Guildford Flames at the Viola Arena, Cardiff Bay (4pm).

Tickets for the Challenge Cup Final are still available here.

Cardiff Devils 

remaining 9 Elite League fixtures

Four home, five away

March

Thursday 7 v Fife Flyers (away, 7.30pm)

Friday 8 v Guildford Flames (home, 7.30pm)

Saturday 16 v Sheffield Steelers (away, 7pm)

Sunday 17 v Glasgow Clan (home, 6pm)

Wednesday 20 v Glasgow Clan (away, 7.30pm)

Saturday 23 v Manchester Storm (home, 7pm)

Sunday 24 v Dundee Stars (away, 5pm)

Saturday 30 v MK Lightning (home, 7pm)

Sunday 31 v Coventry Blaze (away, 5.15pm)

Belfast Giants

8 fixtures left, six home, two away

March 

Friday 8 v Glasgow Clan (home, 7pm)

Friday 15 v Coventry Blaze (home, 7pm)

Friday 15 v Coventry Blaze (home, 7pm)

Friday 22 v Manchester Storm (away, 7pm)

Sunday 24 v Sheffield Steelers (home, 4pm)

Wednesday 27 v Coventry Blaze (away, 7.30pm)

Friday 29 v Fife Flyers (home, 7pm)

Saturday 30 v Dundee Stars (home, 7pm)

ELITE ICE HOCKEY LEAGUE 2018-19

TEAM	GP	W	L	OTL	PTS	PCT	GF	GA	PIM	STREAK
Cardiff Devils	51	37	8	6	80	.784	204	130	587	3-0
Belfast Giants	52	38	12	2	78	.750	200	129	647	1-0
Glasgow Clan	53	30	18	5	65	.613	189	161	664	0-1
Nottingham Panthers	54	26	18	10	62	.574	166	170	878	1-0
Guildford Flames	53	27	21	5	59	.557	171	161	638	1-0
Fife Flyers	50	25	19	6	56	.560	163	168	700	0-1
Sheffield Steelers	54	26	25	3	55	.509	160	186	797	0-1
Manchester Storm	53	23	25	5	51	.481	156	183	1094	0-1
Dundee Stars	51	19	20	12	50	.490	144	174	512	1-0
Coventry Blaze	50	21	22	7	49	.490	175	193	661	0-4
Milton Keynes Lightning	51	14	33	4	32	.314	126	199	877	1-0