Andrew Lord Skates In To Face Lightning Strike

Cardiff Devils player-coach Andrew Lord. Pic: Richard Murray.

Andrew Lord Skates In To Face Lightning Strike

Andrew Lord returns to the ice for Cardiff Devils in their final Elite League match of the season this evening.

Player-coach Lord took part in the warm-up before Devils 8-1 win against Belfast Giants on Saturday, but was on the bench for the match.

Now, though, Lord has confirmed he will play against Milton Keynes Lightning at Ice Arena Wales in Cardiff Bay tonight (Sunday, 6pm).

The Canadian forward has stepped back from playing over the second half of this season, but has been training hard and wants to be ready if he is needed over the next couple of weeks.

http://https://youtu.be/9DkVj6MAB5I

Lord will also meet Devils supporters after the match, signing autographs and posing for photographs.

League champions Devils play MK Lightning to complete their regular season fixtures, while they play Coventry Blaze in the play-off quarter-finals next weekend.

Blaze host the first leg at their Skydome Arena on Good Friday, April 30 (7.30pm), while the return is at the IAW on Sunday, April 1 (6pm).

Cardiff had eight different goalscorers in their 8-1 win against Giants last night, while they shut out Belfast’s powerplay.

Devils did not concede against seven Giants powerplays, while the Welsh team broke down the visiting penalty kill to score four goals from seven opportunities.

“The guys played great tonight,” said Lord. “They played hard, details were great and it’s fun to be involved when they play with that pace, intensity and puck management.

http://https://youtu.be/yXt-f6T5dNE

“We are a really good team with everybody going like that.

“It’s eight days since we won the League title and it feels like weeks already.”

Lord described the performance of Josh Batch as ‘phenomenal’, while Toms Rutkiss hit good form.

“Drew Paris was great, while Paul Crowder is getting his swagger back, his confidence back,” said Lord. “Ben Bowns was extremely good, particularly on the powerplay,

“We gave up too many shots at times, but Bownsy gives guys so much confidence. He’s confident, big, composed and reads the game so well.

“His hockey IQ is getting better and better, while he knows the shooters around the league so well now. That’s another factor that helps him subconsciously.”

Final Elite League regular season fixtures 2017-18, all being played on Sunday, March 25: Belfast Giants v Dundee Stars, Coventry Blaze v Guildford Flames, Manchester Storm v Sheffield Steelers, Cardiff Devils v MK Lightning, Edinburgh Capitals v Nottingham Panthers.

There are only 24 tickets left for today’s clash with Lightning. Tickets for the match on Sunday or the play-off quarter-final home leg can be purchased by CLICKING HERE or by ringing 0800 0842 666.

ELITE LEAGUE STANDINGS

Regular 2017/18 – all teams play 56 matches

Rk Team GP W L OTL SOL WPCT Pts
1 Cardiff Devils 55 40 12 1 2 .755 83
2 Manchester Storm 55 35 15 3 2 .682 75
3 Sheffield Steelers 55 33 19 2 1 .627 69
4 Nottingham Panthers 55 32 18 2 3 .627 69
5 Belfast Giants 55 33 20 2 0 .618 68
6 Fife Flyers 56 33 21 1 1 .607 68
7 Guildford Flames 55 29 17 5 4 .609 67
8 Coventry Blaze 55 25 25 4 1 .500 55
9 Braehead Clan 56 24 26 5 1 .482 54
10 Dundee Stars 55 22 29 3 1 .436 48
11 Milton Keynes Lightning 55 20 33 1 1 .382 42
12 Edinburgh Capitals 55 5 49 0 1 .100 11

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