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Cardiff Devils are predicting ‘the best game of the season’ when Coventry Blaze visit Ice Arena Wales in Cardiff Bay this evening (Sunday, 6pm).
The teams clash in Devils’ final home fixture of 2017-18 and Blaze are fired up to come out hard and hit their hosts with everything they have.
“There is nothing better than play-off hockey,” said Devils managing director Todd Kelman. “This could be the best game of the season.”
Cardiff lead 4-2 after the first leg of this PredictorBet play-off quarter-final, but Blaze were in front twice and will go for glory this evening. It looks certain to be a fast, fierce and intense clash.
http://https://youtu.be/c4iklNqV_0U
More than 200 Coventry fans will be in the away section, while the match looks certain to be a sell-out with only 30 tickets left this morning.
All four quarter-final second leg ties are played today with overtime and penalties used to find winners if any of the clashes are tied at the end of 60 minutes.
Devils will again sit out two import players and one of those looks certain to be player-coach Andrew Lord. Bryce Reddick was the second healthy scratch at Coventry’s Skydome on Friday, but Lord could yet rethink that.
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How the PredictorBet Play-off quarter-finals stand after first leg matches:
Coventry Blaze 2, Cardiff Devils 4
Tonight’s match is at Ice Arena Wales (6pm)
Elite League champions had to work hard for their victory at the Skydome.
Third period goals from Joey Martin and Matt Pope helped the Devils secure a two-goal advantage despite the best efforts of Blaze goaltender Kevin Nastiuk, who made 31 saves.
http://https://youtu.be/2ATGBbePKPY
Joey Haddad and Sean Bentivoglio also got on the scoresheet for Cardiff, while Ben Lake and Danick Paquette were on target for the Blaze, who will be hoping to channel the spirit of 2015 – when the West Midlands club upset the odds to win the play-offs.
Scotsman Paul Heavey was the last head coach to lead Devils to play-offs success and that was in 1999.
Cardiff are yet to win this end-of-season competition during the EIHL era, giving Lord’s team extra impetus to try and put this quarter-final tie to bed early and ensure they will have a shot at claiming the one piece of silverware to elude them.
Referees: Matt Thompson and Dean Smith
Linesmen: James Kavanagh and James Earl
Sheffield Steelers 5, Guildford Flames 2
Tonight’s match is at The Spectrum, Guildford (6pm).
Guildford’s hopes of qualifying for the Finals weekend in their first season in the Elite League look precarious, but by no means over as Steelers head to Surrey for the return.
Flames have six wins from their last seven and an early goal could yet set the tone for a night of drama.
Recent history has shown Steelers have slipped up at this stage against lower seeded teams in the past. While heavily fancied, defeat and elimination for them would be the ultimate slap in the face from a campaign that hasn’t fully delivered.
Referees: Mike Hicks and Andy Dalton
Linesmen: Lee Young and Danny Beresford
Belfast Giants 4, Nottingham Panthers 3
Tonight’s game: Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham (7pm)
Belfast take a one-goal lead into the second leg at the arena where the play-off finals weekend will be held on Saturday, April 7 and Sunday, April 8
Giants scored three goals in the opening 14 minutes in the first leg with Darcy Murphy picking up a goal and an assist as Adam Keefe’s side swept into a solid early lead.
Two goals from veteran British player David Clarke ensured the Panthers helped Panthers keep this tie close.
Mark Derlago was also on target for the Panthers on Friday night, while Erik Lindhagen had two assists.
For Clarke, and Head Coach Corey Neilson, the tie has an extra element to it, with both set to leave the organisation this summer.
Clarke is retiring, while Neilson moving on to pastures new.
Referees: Tom Darnell and Pavel Halas
Linesmen: James Ions and Allan Ward
Fife Flyers 1, Manchester Storm 4
Today’s game: Silverblades Ice Rink, Altrincham – 5.30pm
Manchester weathered the storm in Kirkcaldy, but Flyers are fired up for the return.
These four fixtures are the final match of the season for clubs who lose – and all eight would love to go through to the finals weekend.
Gardiner Conference champions Fife having never reached the final four and they face a huge task.
Storm made their Silverblades home a fortress on their way to winning the Patton Conference and clinching second place in Elite League.
Referees: Stefan Hogarth and Neil Wilson
Linesmen: Ally Flockhart and Ilia Kisil
