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 [email protected]

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