Match Previews - Devils Vs Blaze

28th Mar 2012 | Posted by Simon Rafferty

It all comes down to this weekend with just two games , Paul Thompson and the Coventry Blaze being all that stands between the Devils and the Play-off final weekend in Nottingham.

First up on Saturday the Devils face the Blaze at home with the return match in Wales the following night on Sunday. It really is a close one and hard to call with possibly the home advantage on the second leg for Devils proving the difference.

The two teams match up well finishing 4th and 5th in the league respectively. In the series between them the Devils however have come out on top winning 6 of the eight clashes scoring a total of 30 goals which compares nicely to the Blaze’s twenty goal tally against the Devils.

The two teams played back to back games last weekend giving us a great preview of what to expect this weekend.
 
Starting last Saturday in the Skydome in Coventry, the Blaze got off to the best possible start as Jerramie Domish with his first goal of the season had them in front with 82 seconds on the clock. This could have been doubled at 3.04 when the Blaze were awarded a penalty shot. However, Robert Farmer failed to convert.

Taking their chances the Devils struck back with a strike from Chris Frank at 3.48 and then a double from Ben Davies at 7.33 and 9.50 increased the Devils lead to two goals.

The Blaze reduced the deficit with a power play goal from Matic Kralj at 26.08 and at 30.21 were on level terms as Shea Guthrie scored.

Three goals in the first five minutes of the third period gave Blaze full control of the game. The show was on the road as Woo Sang Park netted at 41.42 and then Mike McLean on the power play at 44.23 this was followed by a strike from Robert Farmer at 44.49 to give the Blaze a three-goal lead.
Devils did get another goal but it was no more than a late consolation as Mark Richardson found the net at 56.14.

Final score Coventry Blaze 6 - 4 Cardiff Devils, this result securing 5th place for the Blaze and ensuring that the Devils and the Blaze would meet in the Play-Offs

Sunday saw the Devils fired up and hunting the win on home ice in Cardiff. The game got off to a great start with quick goals from Stuart MacRae (1.43) and Jeff Pierce on 5.42, seeing Cardiff go two goals up.

With the Devils hitting anything that moved a goal against the flow of play at 6.21 from Shea Guthrie pulled one back for the Blaze, assisted by Jonathan Weaver and net minder Peter Hirsch.
However, 49 seconds before the end of the first, Jamie Vanderveeken scored to restore The Devils two goal lead.

Shea Guthrie hit a second (and his second) on 33.33, assisted by Owen Fussey and Matic Kralj but the power play goal was soon cancelled out by a Phil Hill goal some two minutes later.

Dustin Wood scored a third goal for Coventry on the power play, assisted by Owen Fussey but despite a fine effort, they could not get another goal and the Devils sealed the win

Final score Devils 4 – 3 Blaze. 

Coach Paul Thompson, who lost British duo Robert Farmer and James Griffin to injuries during the match, had this to say

 “It was a battle but I thought we deserved something from the game. It was certainly not played like a last game of the season. Both teams played hard and wanted to win.”

“I think it is going to be an unbelievable two-game series next weekend, it is going to be a war of attrition.”

Looking at the Blaze Squad the ones to watch as always are Shea Guthrie 33 Goals ( 5 Goals on the Devils) and 51 assists for 84 points, Owen Fussey 37 goals ( 3 on the Devils) and 31 assists for 68 points and Matic Kralj on 28 goals and 35 assists for 63 points.

Adding to that trio the Blaze also have strong secondary scoring from the likes of Robert Farmer (if he features this weekend) on 28 Goals (3 on the Devils) and 27 assists, Greg Owen on 15 Goals and 28 assists and lurking on the Blue line the “Machine” Dustin Wood on 12 goals of which 3 have been on the Devils Net.

In Net the Blaze are backed by Peter Hirsch who on his day is more than Capable, currently running a 91% save percentage and goals against average of 2.95. Getting to Hirsch early is the key as we saw in Cardiff on Sunday when a pair of early goals seemed to rattle him for the game. He’s had 30 Devils goals past him this season already so should be used to the experience by now.

It’s yet to be confirmed but after last weekend the Blaze could possibly be with Brits Robert Famer and James Griffin who both exited the game due to injuries sustained on Sunday in addition to this it’s unknown if Matt Soderstrom will Ice as cover on D as he was ill last weekend. 

Ones to watch for the Devils against the Blaze are Jeff Pierce who’s netted 4 times against the Blaze this season, Stuart MacRae who also scored 4 , Phil Hill also on 4 and Scott Matzka ( letting the side down really ) on 3 goals against the Blaze this year.

Add to this that there are another four  players who’ve all stuck two goals past Peter Hirsch, Scott Dobben, Ben Davies, Kenton Smith and Mark Richardson things are look good. 

Injury wise the Devils may well be without Sam Smith and Tim Burrows again this weekend and there is also some doubt over Chris Frank who looked to have strained knee in his fight with Coventry’s Jurynec last weekend. Nothing has been confirmed either way as yet on all three so it really will be a case of waiting to hear from the Devils or seeing who takes to the Ice Saturday.

Six periods of Hockey over two days against a team that’s underperformed this season and that they’ve beaten convincingly this season on several occasions, that’s all the Devils need to do. Coventry’s coach Paul Thompson thinks this weekend will be a war of attrition and I tend to agree with him. Expect some big hits and a lot of physical play from the off.

Sunday night is the key for me even coming away with a one or two goal loss deficit after the first leg will be a result on home Ice the Devils with the backing of the fans should be able to do the Job and help the Blaze start their off season early.  

Don’t forget to wear Red Sunday, even thou nothing official has been said as yet lets Red out the rink !

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