Cardiff Devils expect Ben Bowns to be fit for next weekend’s Elite League fixtures against Sheffield Steelers and Fife Flyers.
Netminder Bowns is having treatment on an ankle injury, but Devils managing director Todd Kelman says: “We don’t believe there is any serious damage.
“Ben wanted to play on at Sheffield. That was possible and he carried on for a short time, but found discomfort pushing off on one foot.
“It was felt the best option was to get him off and check out how he was. Thankfully, the signs seem to be positive.”
Number two Thomas Murdy is one of the best back-up goalies in Elite League, but the loss of Bowns would still have been a blow.
Now, though, it seems Bowns will be ready for Saturday’s match at Sheffield and Sunday’s clash with Fife Flyers at Ice Arena Wales.
The news on Bowns is a boost for Devils, who need two wins from their remaining four fixtures to be crowned League champions.
Captain Jake Morissette and his team have already won the Challenge Cup and are intent on adding three more trophies to their haul – League title, Erhardt Conference championship and the play-offs.
They finish the 2016-17 regular season with back-to-back home matches against Belfast Giants.
There is also a key fixture in the title chase next Friday when Belfast, who are second, are at home against Steelers.
The three remaining Devils home League matches are all virtually sold out.
Devils have had a long series of 3,088 sell-out attendances and it looks certain all tickets will be snapped up well before the fixtures are played.
There are 131 seats left for this Sunday’s home game against Flyers, while only six remain for the visit of Belfast Giants on Saturday, March 25 (7pm).
Devils play Giants again the following evening and there are 143 tickets remaining for that fixture.
Ticket information is available from the club’s official website or via the hotline on 0800 0842 666.
Elite League – top five only
All teams play 52 fixtures
Pl Pts
1 Cardiff Devils 48 75
2 Belfast Giants 48 70
3 Sheffield Steelers 48 67
4 Braehead Clan 48 51
5 Nottingham Panthers 46 50
Remaining fixtures involving top three:
March
Friday 17: Belfast Giants v Sheffield Steelers (7pm)
Saturday 18: Belfast Giants v Coventry Blaze (7pm), Sheffield Steelers v Cardiff Devils (7pm)
Sunday 19: Cardiff Devils v Fife Flyers (6pm)
Friday 24: Nottingham Panthers v Sheffield Steelers (7.30pm)
Saturday 25: Cardiff Devils v Belfast Giants (7pm)
Sunday 26: Sheffield Steelers v Coventry Blaze (5pm), Cardiff Devils v Belfast Giants (6pm).