Devils Waiting For Clan Or Blaze In Play-Offs

A Bird's Eye view of Elite League Champions. Cardiff Devils celebrate. Pic: William Cherry/Press Eye

Devils Waiting For Clan Or Blaze In Play-Offs

Coventry Blaze are favourites to claim the final Elite League play-off slot and play champions Cardiff Devils in the final.

Glasgow-based Braehead Clan suffered a 6-3 defeat against Nottingham Panthers last night and raised Blaze hopes of overtaking their rivals.

The leading seven clubs have already clinched their places in the PredictorBet play-off quarter-final, while Clan and Blaze are battling it out to finish eighth.

Guildford Flames, who have already qualified, hold the key. They play both Clan and Blaze this weekend.

Braehead are one point ahead of Coventry with only fixture to play, against Flames this evening.

The eight-team PredictorBet play-offs start at the end of this month.

Blaze still have two games to play, against Manchester Storm tonight and Flames tomorrow.

Clan were bitterly disappointed with their defeat against Panthers and coach John Tripp said: “The guys did not have their thinking caps on. A lot of bad habits crept in.

“Simple things, individual hockey. One of our centremen were 2/13 on draws and that’s not going to cut it. We have guys who are over 50 per cent.”

Devils, who have already won two trophies this season, finish the regular season with back-to-back home fixtures, against Belfast Giants at Ice Arena Wales this evening (7pm) and Milton Keynes Lightning at the same venue tomorrow (6pm).

Devils will host their final home game of the season in the play-off quarter-finals on Sunday, April 1.

Coach Andrew Lord has led Cardiff Devils to seven championships in the last four years – and now the Welsh club are intent on winning the play-offs.

Their opponents are still to be determined and will be either Coventry or Braehead depending on results this weekend.

The winner of the two-game series will move on to the Predictorbet play-offs final four weekend in Nottingham on Saturday, April 7 and Sunday, April 8.

Fans can vote for Cardiff Devils award winners at the IAW this weekend or email for Forward of the Year, Defenceman of the Year, Most Valuable Player, Unsung Hero, Fan Favourite.

There will be voting slips and boxes to put them in at the season ticket door and the main reception at both matches this weekend.

Emails info@cardiffdevils.com

The Devils awards night will be held on Monday, April 2 at Cardiff City Hall.

After consulting with the Devils fan council, the club decided to make the awards evening something more affordable and more accessible for Devils fans rather than a dinner with limited space and a higher price tag.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS or ring on 0800 0842 666 to book.

Remaining Elite League regular season fixtures 2017-18:

March 

Saturday 24: Guildford Flames v Braehead Clan, Sheffield Steelers v Edinburgh Capitals, MK Lightning v Fife Flyers, Manchester Storm v Coventry Blaze, Dundee Stars v Nottingham Panthers, Cardiff Devils v Belfast Giants.

Sunday 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.

Remaining Devils fixtures in the regular season (play-offs start later this month):

Saturday 24 v Belfast Giants H (7pm)

Sunday 25 v MK Lightning H (6pm)

CLICK HERE to book a ticket for all or any of the remaining three Devils matches. Call 0800 0842 666 to book via the phone.

STANDINGS

ELITE LEAGUE

Pos Team GP W L OL SL GF GA Pts
1 Cardiff Devils 54 39 12 1 2 219 145 81
2 Manchester Storm 54 35 14 3 2 210 157 75
3 Belfast Giants 54 33 19 2 0 218 817 68
4 Fife Flyers 55 33 20 1 1 216 167 68
5 Sheffield Steelers 54 32 19 2 1 201 136 67
6 Nottingham Panthers 54 31 17 2 3 195 171 67
7 Guildford Flames 54 28 17 5 4 207 169 65
8 Braehead Clan 55 24 25 5 1 160 183 54
9 Coventry Blaze 54 24 25 4 1 179 177 53
10 Dundee Stars 54 22 28 3 1 159 221 48
11 MK Lightning 54 19 33 1 1 172 220 40
12 Edinburgh Capitals 54 5 48 0 1 113 316 11

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