GAME PREVIEW: All roads lead to Nottingham
Cardiff Devils vs Glasgow Clan
Ice Arena Wales, Cardiff (Face off 7.30pm)
Ticket details: Cardiff Devils
Webcast: Premier Sports 2 (coverage begins at 7.15pm)
*Note there is no webcast due to the game being shown on television
It’s finally here! The first play-off competition in the Premier Sports Elite League since 2019 and understandably, there’s a lot of excitement across the remaining eight teams as their seasons are extended a little more.
Cardiff won the last edition of this tournament three years ago, but after a disappointing league campaign that saw them finish behind champions Belfast Giants and Sheffield Steelers, this is their last shot at silverware.
The recent departure of their coach, Jarrod Skalde, surprised many, but the interim partnership of Neil Francis and Brodie Dupont has ticked things over nicely.
In Glasgow, the mood is high after three straight wins and four in their last five games to get to this point and there’s an air of confidence, but there’s also an air of trepidation as well.
A win for the Clan tonight would be huge in bringing the tie home, but it would be by no means certain. This is just the first half.
Buckle yourselves in, folks. It’s going to be a rollercoaster.
FORM GUIDE
CARDIFF DEVILS
Last Six Games:
Sun 17/04 PSEL vs Nottingham Panthers (a) W 7-3
Sat 16/04 PSEL vs Dundee Stars (h) W 4-1
Sun 10/04 PSEL vs Manchester Storm (a) W 4-1
Sat 09/04 PSEL vs Guildford Flames (h) L 1-2 (After Overtime)
Sun 02/04 PSEL vs Guildford Flames (a) L 5-6 (After Overtime)
Fri 01/04 PSEL vs Dundee Stars (h) W 7-1
GLASGOW CLAN
Last Six Games:
Sun 17/04 PSEL vs Fife Flyers (a) W 4-3
Sat 16/04 PSEL vs Fife Flyers (h) W 7-2
Wed 13/04 PSEL vs Sheffield Steelers (h) W 2-0
Sun 10/04 PSEL vs Coventry Blaze (a) L 0-2
Sat 09/04 PSEL vs Manchester Storm (h) W 7-4
Sat 02/04 PSEL vs Dundee Stars (h) L 1-2 (After Overtime)
THE SEASON SO FAR
Sun 19/12 Glasgow Clan 2 Cardiff Devils 5
Wed 12/01 Glasgow Clan 2 Cardiff Devils 3
Wed 09/02 Cardiff Devils 4 Glasgow Clan 2
Sun 27/02 Glasgow Clan 6 Cardiff Devils 3
Sun 06/03 Cardiff Devils 3 Glasgow Clan 1
Fri 18/03 Cardiff Devils 4 Glasgow Clan 2
BEST PLAY-OFF RECORD:
Cardiff Devils – Winners 2018, 2019
Glasgow Clan – Semi Finalists 2014
PLAYER TO WATCH
#5 Ben Davies
Everyone remembers Ben Davies for his glorious goal for Great Britain in Kosice during the 2019 World Championships – a goal that GB from relegation that year.
But he was a player much loved by Clan fans during his two-year stint in Scotland between 2014 and 2016 where he was a big part of the side that finished second in the league and reached the Champions Hockey League.
Ben got his move home to Cardiff last summer and has excelled playing with some really good operators in that Devils team.
His speed down the wings, his experienced head and coolness under pressure will be big assets as Devils look for a return to Nottingham next week.
THE NUMBERS GAME
3
Number of consecutive games each team have won in their final regular season fixtures before they come in this one
27
Number of months since Glasgow Clan last won a game at Ice Arena Wales, with the Devils winning each of the four meetings since a 6-2 victory for Glasgow in September 2019
63
The minute Matt Haywood scored the winner to seal a place in the Challenge Cup Semi Finals in defeating the Devils 6-4 at Ice Arena Wales in December 2018, going through 9-8 on aggregate
21
Number of goals shared between the teams in their last play-off meeting, a 12-9 quarter final aggregate score for Cardiff against the Clan in 2012
5
Number of goals for the season scored by Dyson Stevenson, with his three last week against Fife Flyers more than doubling his tally for 2021/22.
