Match Preview Devils Vs Clan 2nd March

1st Mar 2012 | Posted by Simon Rafferty

Friday night see's the Devils make the trip to Scotland to take on the Braehead clan in what looks increasingly like a prequel to the upcoming Semi Final "series". This will be the sixth meeting between the two teams this year with the tally currently standing at 3 - 2 to the Devils.

Last weekend saw the Clan in action in three games starting on Friday at home to the Sheffield Steelers, coming into the game Braehead had won their last six games but had yet to beat the Steelers at home. The opening period saw chances being created by both teams but solid goal tending denied any score until 10 seconds from the end of the period when Steeler Colt King netted on the power play to put the Steelers in front.

The home side got back on level terms early in the second period as Adam Walker scored in the opening minutes after this the game fell back into the pattern of the first period with end to end play failing to result in a score for either team.

The Clan sealed the win just 21 seconds into the third period with a goal from player/coach Drew Bannister. Despite intense pressure from both teams after this neither could find the net and the Clan held on to take the points.

Final score Braehead Clan 2 - 1 Sheffield Steelers

Saturday saw the Clan in action against the Edinburgh Clan. The opening period saw both teams score two goals With the Capitals going 2 – 0 up with goals from Peter Holecko and Sean Menton. The Clan quickly rallied and struck back with two quick goals first from Jordan Krestanovich and then Lee Mitchell. However, Capitals player/coach Richard Hartmann gave his side the lead once again taking his team into the first break a goal up.

The second period saw the Capitals go two goals up with a second goal of the game for Sean Menton before the Clan again hit back with a goal from Mike Wirll.

The Clan for the second time in the game came back to tie it up as Ryan Campbell found the net in the third period to make it four apiece. Neither side could find the net again and the game went into overtime. This failed to produce a winner and the extra point would be decided by a penalty shootout.

Final score Edinburgh Capitals 4 – 5 Braehead Clan (After Penalty Shootout)

Onto Sunday night and the Clan were away to local rivals the Dundee Stars, despite the Clan dominating the game early on they fell behind to the only goal scored by the Stars Mark Kolanos at 11.54.

A wide open second period saw Clan level at with a power play strike by Jim Jorgensen only for Stars to edge ahead again when Jarrett Konkle scored putting the Stars back in the lead. The Clan however, then turned the game their way, scoring twice more before the end of the period from Brock McPherson at and Jade Galbraith.

The open scoring for the Clan continued into the third period with Drew banister and Mike Bayrack scoring early on putting the Clan 5-2 ahead home side but after a home time out an incredible recovery saw strikes by Stars Kolanos, A J Maclean and Ross McIntosh on the power play tie the game at 5-5. Sending the game into overtime.

Neither team seemed able to score in overtime sending the game to penalties with the winner being netted by Stars Brent Hughes in sudden death penalties ending the Clans 8 game winning streak.

Dundee Stars 6 – 5 Braehead Clan (After Penalty Shootout)

The Clan’s boast a strong pack of forwards with the league’s top scorer Jade Galbraith leading on 90 points ( 31 Goals and 59 assists ) backed up by Mike Bayrack on 64 points, Jordan Krestanovich on 63 points and Brock McPherson on 49 points, these four are amply supported with scoring from the blue line from James Jorgenson (44 points) and Drew Bannister (37 points) in addition relative newcomer Mike Wirral also provides a potent scoring threat. Secondary scoring is where the Clan fall down a little with the bulk of the scoring seemingly concentrated on their top two lines.

The Clan should come into the game with a full bench although it is rumoured that both Jade Galbraith and Mike Wirral are playing carrying injuries.

The Devils come into the game with just seven imports missing Mark Smith and Max Birbraer through injury and Chris Frank through suspension after an altercation with Hulls Kurtis Dulle last weekend saw him take his sixth Misconduct, this game will see Frank serve his mandatory ban.

This game will be a great test for the Devils who will more than likely face the Clan in the play-off group stages. The Devils will need to play a clever spoiling defensive road game and shut down the Clans top two lines and take maximum advantage of their lack of depth if they hope to take the two points away from the trip.

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