Fife Flyers are in Cardiff Bay this evening (Saturday) when coach Andrew Lord’s Devils are intent on a comeback win.
They were devastated by a 3-1 midweek defeat against Dundee Stars in Scotland and Cardiff Devils now play Flyers at home before travelling to Elite League leaders Nottingham Panthers on Sunday.
The defeat in Dundee ended a six-match winning streak for Devils, who are sixth in the table with games in hand on all the teams above them.
Devils have won five of their seven games at home this season, and recorded a 5-3 victory over the Flyers in Kirkcaldy last month, making them many people’s favourites heading into the tie, but Head Coach Andrew Lord remains wary of their Scottish opponents.
“Fife are a team who play with grit and intensity every game,” he said. “They make it tough to play against them and never quit.
“It’s going to be a great game to watch and a great game to play in as well.”
The Flyers earned two wins last weekend, beating Dundee 5-1 on home ice before a big effort in Coventry saw Todd Dutiaume’s side claim a 4-3 win over Blaze.
Fife boast the best penalty kill in the Elite League, while goaltender Andy Iles has kept up the strong tradition of great performers between the pipes for the Flyers, leading the league in both save percentage (.930) and goals-against average (2.01).
The puck drops at 7pm for the Fife game, while Panthers v Devils in Nottingham starts at 4pm on Sunday.
Coach Corey Neilson is happy for his Panthers team to be top of Elite League, saying: “It’s been pretty nice to get out in front instead of chasing all the time. It does feel good.
“Everyone else can look at what they need to catch you. We’re just winning games and that’s our sole focus. I like being out in front.”
Panthers have only lost three times in the league this season and two of those defeats have been inflicted in emphatic fashion by sixth placed Cardiff.
“Cardiff are a great team,” says Neilson. “I don’t think our goaltending has been spectacular, especially in Cardiff.
“Sam Gospel played well when he had his chance. We’ve been down early against them so we need to start well and their goaltender has been extremely good against us.
“It’s a game between two good teams. The last time we played them we weren’t as competitive as we wanted to be.
“It wasn’t our best. We know we can do better and we’ll be looking for that on Sunday.”
Panthers are at full strength and are without a game on Saturday which means they can focus on their clash with Devils.
Devils have two fixtures this weekend, at home against Fife on Saturday (Ice Arena Wales, 7pm) before travelling to Nottingham Panthers the next day (4pm).
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