I thought you guys played pretty well against Liberec, certainly gave them a game! Just seemed to be another case of the opposition taking the 1st Period to figure out how you worked, what didn't work and then their coach probably demanding better through the 2nd, because who likes being shown up by a British team right?
The thing that a thought was weakest about Devils against Liberec was the physical play, during the 2nd and 3rd it just wasn't there. Liberec forwards were pulling all kinds of moves, pulling the D here, there and everywhere which left Bowns a bit in the dry. I feel that if Devils had have stepped up the physical play, they would have held the lead or maybe even increased it. You've got a lot of big defensemen and seeing them only really stick check and give little pushes to the forwards was disappointing. However, if you played the same way in the EIHL the tables would certainly not have turned in the speed they did yesterday. Liberec won the Czech league and lost in the Final of the Playoffs, they're a clinical team and made best of the opportunities they had.
Back in IAW, a really really hope you play the physical game the EIHL opposition are used to facing. EU refs are strict but they won't call hits unless they are late. EU teams can play physical but for some reason, they hate being played physical against, it's like they feel they are superior and the British teams are embarrassing them, it frustrates them. The key to playing physical is to be able to keep the head level, if anyone throws a glove punch or tries to ragdoll the other player, they will get penalised 99% of the time. Play physical, make them lose their heads and tire them out. IAW is a hard place to play in, you've got to make them pay and take it to them. Panthers were very physical against Mountfield and they didn't like it, Bern didn't like it either. It throws them off their natural game if they have a big burley Canadian breathing down their neck. Panthers took 11 penalties in the game last night, killed 10 of them and if Mountfield had been a little more clinical in their finishing, it could've easily been a different score, but they couldn't play the game they wanted due to the way Panthers played theirs. I'm not trying to big up Panthers, that's just how It was. Everytime there was a player rushing in for the rebound, they were faced with a heavy shoulder or thrown off balance. On the forecheck too, they didn't mess around too much because they knew our players would kill them if they did, puck pressure was constant.
On home ice, I think you guys will be much better. Get a good crowd, be loud and make IAW a very intimidating place for the opposition to play in. Play hard, be unforgiving and relentless, a 60 minute physical battle between Devils and Liberec, I'd have Devils winning every time. Against Davos? Not so sure, the Swiss are exceptional but what's the harm in trying? They'll probably be expecting to come to Cardiff and pull the same score they did in Davos, play the way Cardiff are known to play and it could be different. In theory, back in the UK we should have our own incompetent officials, so use that to the advantage too. Like the Swiss, Czech officials seemed to be more forgiving to their home teams.
You've gone from a hefty defeat, to giving the Czech Champions a game, that's great progress and I'm sure the progress will continue and a victory should not be dismissed, I've got faith in you guys.