Devils Head North In Quest For Elite League Title

Cardiff Devils face two vastly different Elite League tests on the road this weekend.

Head coach Andrew Lord and his team travel to play Nottingham Panthers on Saturday, stay overnight in the English midlands and then go to Scotland (7pm).

Their second match, on Sunday, is against struggling Edinburgh Capitals at Murrayfield in Scotland (6pm).

Panthers are a team frustrated by their failure to stay with Devils in the title chase and long-term coach Corey Neilson will be moving on at the end if this season.

They are, though, a hugely talented team hungry for success – and they will be out to underline their desire with a big performance against Cardiff in Nottingham.

Neilson has no doubt about the quality of Cardiff’s roster, saying: “Devils are a great all-round hockey team with outstanding players.”

Capitals, meanwhile, are bottom of the table, 24 points behind closest rivals Milton Keynes Thunder, and cannot qualify for the play-offs.

There is a gap of 60 points between Cardiff in top spot and Caps in last place.

Devils have already secured their place in the quarter-finals, are through to the Challenge Cup final against Belfast Giants and are intent on winning the league title.

Capitals have earned only four wins in 43 league fixtures this season and seven players have either quit or been released.

Former Chicago Blackhawks forward Pavel Vorobyev and Latvian defenceman Nikita Kolesnikovs left to join Polish side Cracovia Krakow in a shock transfer-deadline day move and Caps are on course for their worst-ever showing in the Elite League.

They have former German Elite League ‘goalie of the year’ Tyler Beskorowany, while Canadian Michael D’Orazio has taken over the role of coach since the departure of former NHL star Dmitri Khristich.

Tom Darnell and Matt Thompson are the referees for Saturday’s match in Nottingham, while Steve Brown and Pavel Halas will be in charge at Murrayfield.

Cardiff’s next Elite League match at home is against Belfast Giants on Sunday, February 25 (6pm).

To book tickets for Devils matches CLICK HERE or CALL 0800 0842 666 to book, while CLICK HERE for the full fixtures list.

Devils have 13 league fixtures left this season and the trip to Nottingham is the second of five successive games on the road.

They follow that by playing Edinburgh, Sheffield Steelers (Wednesday, February 21) and Manchester Storm (February 24).

ELITE LEAGUE STANDINGS

Regular 2017/18

Rk	Team	GP	W	L	OTL	SOL	WPCT	Pts
1	Cardiff Devils	43	33	7	1	2	.802	69
2	Belfast Giants	44	29	13	2	0	.682	60
3	Manchester Storm	44	27	12	3	2	.670	59
4	Sheffield Steelers	42	25	14	2	1	.631	53
5	Fife Flyers	39	25	12	1	1	.667	52
6	Guildford Flames	43	23	14	4	2	.605	52
7	Nottingham Panthers	40	22	15	2	1	.588	47
8	Braehead Clan	44	19	21	3	1	.477	42
9	Dundee Stars	42	17	22	2	1	.440	37
10	Coventry Blaze	44	16	24	3	1	.409	36
11	Milton Keynes Lightning	44	16	27	1	0	.375	33
12	Edinburgh Capitals	43	4	38	0	1	.105	9