Devils Struggle Defensively – Spirit, Desire Win Game

Cardiff Devils 6, Fife Flyers 4

Andrew Lord’s Cardiff Devils are hanging on in there. They are are playing well below their best right now, but head coach Lord’s men are still right in the hunt for honours.

At times against Fife Flyers I was mentally comparing Devils work on defence against Cardiff City’s disastrous work at the back over their last couple of fixtures.

Maybe Lord and Bluebirds boss Neil Harris should meet up and have a chat. They are both certainly leaking far too many goals.

There is no question Cardiff have the best win percentage in Elite League and are right in the title hunt, but it’s also true that Sheffield Steelers have scored 44 goals more than Devils in the league – and have only conceded seven goals less than their Welsh rivals.

Yes, Steelers have played four more fixtures, but they have points on the board and it’s going to be a tough battle over the rest of this season.

Devils were again without injured Joey Martin and defenceman Mark Richardson was named captain in his place.

“It was made a lot harder than it needed to be,” said Lord. “I liked the first 10 minutes when we were back playing to our style and generated some good goals.

“The first goal against us was real unlucky and that will happen, but a lack of awareness away from puck has crept into our game over the last few days. 

“I did, though, like large parts of our game, I really did.

“Give Flyers credit. They hung in and have a lot of offensive firepower.”

Cardiff Devils D-man Mark Richardson. Pic: David Williams.

Match stats:

Scorers, Devils: Matthew Myers 1+0, Masi Marjamaki 2+0, Bryce Reddick 1+2, Matt Pope 1+1, Mike McNamee 1+0, Sam Duggan 0+1, Josh Batch 0+1, Shaone Morrisonn 0+2, Sam Jardine 0+2, Mark Richardson 0+1

Flyers: Kyle Just 1+0, James Livingston 1+0, Danick Gauthier 2+0, Tim Crowder 0+1, Carlo Finucci 0+1, Scott Aarssen 0+2, Dylan Quaile 0+1, Chase Schaber 0+1

Period scores (Devils first) 2-1; 2-2 (4-2); 2-1 (6-4) 

Penalties in minutes: Devils 4+2+0=6; Flyers 4+4+0=8

Powerplays: Devils 3, Flyers 2

Face-offs won: Devils 33, Flyers 37

Shots on goal: Devils (on Adam Morrison) 15+21+14=50, Flyers (on Ben Bowns) 16+7+7=30

Attendance: 2,895

Referee: Matt Thompson, Dean Smith

Masi Martjamaki. Pic: Helen Brabon.

Cardiff Devils team

Goalies: Ben Bowns (backs-up Thomas Murdy)

First line: Gleason Fournier, Mark Richardson, Sean Bentivoglio, Mike McNamee, Blair Riley

Second line: Mark Louis, Sean McMonagle, Charles Linglet, Stephen Dixon, Joey Haddad

Third line: Sam Jardine, Shaone Morrisonn, Josh Batch, Matthew Myers, Sam Duggan

Fourth line: Masi Marjamaki, Matt Pope, Bryce Reddick

Elite League Sunday results: Belfast Giants 1, Coventry Blaze 4; Glasgow Clan 3, Sheffield Steelers 5; Manchester Storm 0, Nottingham Panthers 3; Cardiff Devils 6, Fife Flyers 4; Guildford Flames 2, Dundee Stars 6.

Home tickets: Click HERE or call 0800 0842 666.

Cardiff Devils remaining fixtures in January (League unless stated)

Saturday 11 v Manchester Storm (away, 7pm)

Sunday 12 v Dundee Stars (home, 6pm)

Saturday 18 v Sheffield Steelers (home, 7pm)

Sunday 19 v Dundee Stars (away, 5pm)

Wednesday 22 v Nottingham Panthers (home, 7.30pm, Challenge Cup)

Saturday 25 v Fife Flyers (away, 7.15pm)

Sunday 26 v Nottingham Panthers (home, 6pm)

Wednesday 29 v Nottingham Panthers (away, 7.30pm, Challenge Cup)

Elite League standings                    

Team	GP	PTS	W	OTW	L	OTL/SOL	GF	GA	PTS %
1  Sheffield Steelers	34	47	21	2	10	1	149	99	0.69
2  Cardiff Devils	30	42	19	1	8	2	105	92	0.70
3  Belfast Giants	32	40	17	2	11	2	100	83	0.63
4  Nottingham Panthers	32	40	14	5	11	2	102	85	0.63
5  Guildford Flames	30	33	12	4	13	1	86	86	0.55
6  Coventry Blaze	32	33	15	0	14	3	117	118	0.52
7  Glasgow Clan	31	29	11	3	16	1	102	119	0.47
8  Manchester Storm	32	26	8	3	17	4	81	107	0.41
9 Fife Flyers	32	25	10	1	18	3	88	113	0.39
10  Dundee Stars	33	24	11	0	20	2	100	128	0.36