By Matthew Burgess
Brodie Dupont has hinted at possible line changes and believes a high-energy brand of hockey will help the Cardiff Devils end a two-game slump as they return for back-to-back home games this weekend.
The Devils will face Glasgow Clan and Guildford Flames after starting their Challenge Cup group-stage campaign with successive defeats.
“We’re expecting our full roster, so it’ll be good to have that balance back and we should have a high-energy weekend,” said the Devils head coach.
“We’ve already forgotten about it [last weekend], preparations have been going well. We’ve tried to add a little more scoring drills to get the guys’ confidence going again.
“You always look to try and do different things to get better – even when you’re winning. And with the bar here being so high, we keep trying to raise that bar.”
The Devils dropped points to Guildford and Coventry Blaze in the Cup last weekend with a failure to capitalise on offensive opportunities in 5-vs-5 and on the power play being a common theme which proved costly across both games.
Sunday’s game against Blaze saw the Devils top-two scoring lines dry up as they managed just five shots each, with Dupont suggesting there could be some change to get the goals flowing once more as they turn their attentions back to the Elite League against Clan.
“We’ve made some adjustments, a little bit with the line-up, but we want to focus this year on a couple of little areas systematically from a structure perspective,” he explained.
“But mostly, I’m getting the guys back to shooting the puck, scoring some goals and getting some confidence going.
“I felt that the pace has got higher as the week’s one on – now the hope is that it translates into the game.”
🎟 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘 🎟
Tickets for Saturday’s clash with @ClanIHC and Sunday’s game v @flamesicehockey are selling fast!
Don’t miss ‘em 👉 https://t.co/y3UYLcuOP4#LetsGoDevils pic.twitter.com/6ApQcXaUhD
— Cardiff Devils (@cardiffdevils) September 23, 2022
Former Devils favourite Stephen Dixon returns to Ice Arena Wales on Saturday night for the first time after making the switch to Glasgow during the off-season, whilst defenceman Mark Louis is available for Cardiff.
Visiting Glasgow are yet to win this season, after Sheffield Steelers extended their winless stretch to five-games in all competitions on Thursday night.
Hard-hitting Dixon is yet to produce a point for Clan during that run but the Devils will be wary of the 37-year-old, who made a big impact during his three seasons in Wales. And the return of the two-time Play-Off champion will be a major talking point amongst fans.
“It’s probably going to be a big moment for him, he might have a little more excitement to be playing us,” said Dupont of his former teammate.
“I watched them last night [against Sheffield] and to give us a look of what to expect, and it’ll be good to see him. I always liked him but at the end of the day, we’re here to beat him.
“We feel going out there and doing what we can do will give ourselves the best shot to do that.”
The Devils completed their week of preparations with the team’s two-way players training with the main roster. Also involved was new assistant coach Christian Horn and the American will feature behind the bench for the first time this weekend after his post was officially announced.
Horn had been penciled in to commence his new full-time role during pre-season, but visa delays forced the Devils to hold back on the announcement.
“Christian is settling in well, we know each other so that’s an easy transition for him,” said Dupont.
“Obviously he’s a little jet-lagged but he’ll bring a big element of his hockey awareness and the way he thinks about the game will challenge me, and just get me to think a little bit differently at times.”
SATURDAY
Guildford Flames v Coventry Blaze (CC)
Belfast Giants v Dundee Stars (CC)
Cardiff Devils v Glasgow Clan
Fife Flyers v Manchester Storm
SUNDAY
Cardiff Devils v Guildford Flames (CC)
Nottingham Panthers v Sheffield Steelers (CC)
Dundee Stars v Belfast Giants (CC)
Coventry Blaze v Fife Flyers
Manchester Storm v Glasgow Clan
Tickets for all forthcoming Cardiff Devils games are available via the team’s official site.
Featured image courtesy of James Assinder