League Champions Cardiff Devils Ready For Play-Offs

Cardiff Devils and ‘focused and upbeat’ going into their PredictorBet play-off quarter-final against Coventry Blaze.

The teams clash at Coventry’s Skydome rink this evening, while the second leg is at Ice Arena Wales in Cardiff Bay on Sunday.

Canadian forward Joey Haddad spoke to the Elite League media team and said: “Our goal is to be the team who wins their final game of the season.

“Everybody is focused and upbeat. We are healthy, happy and excited.

https://soundcloud.com/eliteicehockeyleague/haddad-everyone-is-focussed-and-upbeat

“We fell one goal short last season for the guys who were here that serves as a motivation.”

Devils last won the play-offs championship almost two decades ago, while they reached the final a year ago before losing against Sheffield Steelers in sudden death in sudden death overtime.

“The core of our team has come back over the last few years,” said Haddad. “That helps build relationships on and off the ice. We have built a family here and it’s easier to play for your family.

“We face a tough quarter-final against Coventry. They finished the season on a hot run of form and we are certain not treating it as a first v eighth tie.

“We are going out against a good hockey team and we must be ready to go.”

Blaze clinched the final play-offs slot by winning their last five fixtures, edging ahead of Braehead Clan.

The full PredictorBet play-offs quarter-final line-up is: Cardiff Devils v Coventry Blaze, Manchester Storm v Fife Flyers, Sheffield Steelers v Guildford Flames, Nottingham Panthers v Belfast Giants (Overtime and penalties will be used after the second leg if needed).

Tickets for the play-off quarter-final home leg against Blaze can be purchased by CLICKING HERE or by ringing 0800 0842 666.

The play-off finals weekend is in Nottingham over the weekend of Saturday, April 7 and Sunday, April 8.