Mike Hedden celebrates a goal for Cardiff Devils against Belfast Giants. Pic: Richard Murray.

Giants ‘Dare Not Lose’ Repeat Clash With Devils

Belfast Giants admit they ‘dare not lose’ tonight’s Elite League clash with leaders Cardiff Devils at the Viola Arena in Cardiff Bay (4pm).

Reigning champions Devils, who are going for a third successive title, extended their lead ahead of second-placed Giants to seven points thanks to a 4-2 home win last night.

“It’s a big game on Sunday and we can’t lose it,” said Belfast assistant coach Rob Stewart,

“We have to come out and do our best. Cardiff are a great team. You can’t just show up and expect to win.”

A sell-out attendance of 3,100 spectators watched the best two teams in Britain go head-to-head on Saturday.

Devils were without Canadians Joey Haddad and Drew Scheistel, who both have minor injuries, 

Luke Piggott, Cardiff’s assistant coach, talked to the media after a victory which was an eighth in a row for the Welsh club.

“We are delighted with the win,” he said. “There is a good reason why Cardiff and Belfast are the top two teams in the table and it was a great battle.

“We were pleased with the last 10 of the first, the whole second period and the first 10 of the final period. The guys stuck to our game plan and executed we had been working on all week.

“It was an exciting game.

“The key to games between these teams is always going to be the same. We have to make sure we put ourselves in the best  position to execute our game plan.”

British players Matthew Myers and Sam Duggan were both given good ice time and produced quality performances.

“They had a really good start, were rock solid defensively, had grind minutes in the O-zone and were responsible with the puck,” said Piggott.

“It’s a lot of responsibility for a young guy like Duggan, but the only way he is going to develop is to put him in those situations.

“Matthew is experienced and big games suit him.”

Devils players refuelled with plenty of water, food and rest since Saturday’s match and go again this afternoon.

Belfast Giants are at the Viola Arena this evening (Sunday, 4pm).

For Devils home tickets CLICK HERE TO BOOK ONLINE or CALL 0800 0842 666

CLICK HERE to be redirected to the full fixtures list.

Saturday results: Guildford Flames 3, Fife Flyers 4; Cardiff Devils 4, Belfast Giants 2; Coventry Blaze 2, Manchester Storm 6; Glasgow Clan 4, Nottingham Panthers 1; Milton Keynes Lightning 1, Sheffield Steelers 4.

Sunday fixtures: Cardiff Devils v Belfast Giants (4pm); Sheffield Steelers v MK Lightning (4pm); Dundee Stars v Guildford Flames (5pm); Manchester Storm v Coventry Blaze (5.30pm); Fife Flyers v Nottingham Panthers (6.30pm).

ELITE ICE HOCKEY LEAGUE 2018/19

TEAM GP W L OTL PTS PCT GF GA PIM STREAK
Cardiff Devils 37 28 5 4 60 .811 150 92 422 8-0
Belfast Giants 36 26 9 1 53 .736 136 85 482 0-1
Nottingham Panthers 43 20 14 9 49 .570 134 135 683 0-6
Fife Flyers 37 20 13 4 44 .595 130 127 516 1-0
Glasgow Clan 36 20 14 2 42 .583 131 119 423 2-0
Guildford Flames 38 18 17 3 39 .513 126 122 492 0-2
Manchester Storm 39 18 18 3 39 .500 118 135 880 5-0
Dundee Stars 39 15 15 9 39 .500 109 134 387 3-0
Sheffield Steelers 38 18 19 1 37 .487 118 133 522 1-0
Coventry Blaze 36 15 14 7 37 .514 127 144 440 0-2
Milton Keynes Lightning 39 11 24 4 26 .333 96 149 732 0-5

Elite League leading scorers – top 10

RANK PLAYER TEAM POS NUM GP G A P PIM PP PPA SH SHA GWG
1 Kruise Reddick GUI F 51 38 21 30 51 28 8 16 2 1 2
2 Ben Lake COV F 9 36 22 27 49 47 5 6 0 0 2
3 Matt Beca GLA F 26 36 19 30 49 14 3 9 0 2 3
4 Charles Linglet CAR F 70 37 14 35 49 10 2 16 0 0 2
5 Gleason Fournier CAR D 20 37 16 32 48 22 4 13 0 0 4
6 Mike Hammond MAN F 21 32 12 36 48 14 3 8 2 1 2
7 Brendan Connolly GLA C 9 34 24 22 46 58 4 9 0 0 4
8 Blair Riley BEL RW 25 36 23 23 46 43 5 5 1 0 6
9 Paul Crowder FIF C 80 36 20 26 46 46 4 12 0 1 2
10 Alex Nikiforuk COV F 22 36 15 30 45 39 5 13 0 0 1

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