Head Coach Andrew Lord and his Cardiff Devils are preparing for a crucial run of three Elite League fixtures in five days.
Devils will move four points clear of title rivals Belfast Giants with a win against Glasgow Clan in Scotland on Wednesday, while they play Manchester Storm at the Viola Arena in Cardiff Bay on Saturday before heading back north again for a clash with Dundee Stars.
“We have five big League matches left and a huge five days ahead of us including travel,” said Lord after Cardiff’s 2-0 home win against Clan.
“We need solid performances.”
Goaltender Ben Bowns kept a third successive home shutout as Devils bounced back from their 6-5 defeat against Sheffield Steelers away the previous evening.
“It was a wild game in Sheffield,” said Lord. “There was a lot going on, but I loved our claw back and our guys threw the kitchen sink at Steelers.
“We had 50 shots and that is a wild number when you are playing in Sheffield. Their goaltender (Jackson Whistle) played really well.
“The way we responded against Clan at home says a huge amount about the character we have in our locker room.
“Good defending starts with Bowns and he responded well after maybe not his best performance the previous evening. He was solid, while we didn’t give Clan too many looks.
”There was a huge 5-3 penalty kill in the third when our killers and Ben were great.
“We had a huge amount of puck possession and that makes it difficult for opposing teams.”
Layne Ulmer missed the matches against Sheffield and Glasgow after his wife gave birth to their second child, but he is likely to return for Wednesday’s trip to face Clan.
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Cardiff Devils
Remaining 5 Elite League fixtures
two home, three away
March
Wednesday 20 v Glasgow Clan (away, 7.30pm)
Saturday 23 v Manchester Storm (home, 7pm)
Sunday 24 v Dundee Stars (away, 5pm)
Saturday 30 v MK Lightning (home, 7pm)
Sunday 31 v Coventry Blaze (away, 5.15pm)
Belfast Giants
5 fixtures left, three home, two away
March
Friday 22 v Manchester Storm (away, 7pm)
Sunday 24 v Sheffield Steelers (home, 4pm)
Wednesday 27 v Coventry Blaze (away, 7.30pm)
Friday 29 v Fife Flyers (home, 7pm)
Saturday 30 v Dundee Stars (home, 7pm)