Former Cardiff Devils captain Ryan Finnerty brings his ‘rough and tumble’ Stormtroopers to the Viola Arena in Cardiff Bay on Saturday (7pm).
Canadian Finnerty was an intense, aggressive competitor during his playing days and his Manchester Storm team play with that same commitment.
“Finner’s rough and tumble style of play is exactly how he has built his team and it’s going to be a real battle on Saturday,” says a Devils press statement, while coach Andrew Lord said: “Our key is to focus on our own game and stay disciplined.
“Our power play has been clicking really well and special teams are going to play a factor in this game.”
Elite League leaders Devils have won five of their last six matches, including three victories against Guildford Flames.
Cardiff have the top power play scoring percentage, clicking at 24.5%.
Charles Linglet leads the team in points after 32 matches, standing second overall in league scoring with 14 goals and 29 assists for 43 points.
Fournier, who leads all defencemen in league scoring (14 goals/26 assists/40 points). He is the only D-man among the top 10 scorers in the league.
The consistency of Devils netminder Ben Bowns puts him second on goals against average, allowing just 2.47 goals per game with a save percentage of 91.5%.
His 23 wins are also second overall in the league through 32 games.
Devils are still without back-up netminder Thomas Murdy, having used Milton Keynes Thunder goalie Jordan Lawday or Cardiff Fire teenager Ben Scanlan as number two during his absence.
Joey Haddad missed the home win against Flames because of a minor injury and will be assessed over the next couple of days.
The puck drops at 7pm at Viola Arena on Saturday Night. For ticket information call 0800 0842 666 or logon to www.cardiffdevils.com
Elite League fixtures
Thursday 3
Dundee Stars v Milton Keynes Lightning (7.30pm)
Saturday 5
Belfast Giants v Sheffield Steelers (7pm)
Cardiff Devils v Manchester Storm (7pm)
Glasgow Clan v Dundee Stars (7pm)
Milton Keynes Lightning v Coventry Blaze (7pm)
Nottingham Panthers v Fife Flyers (7pm)
Sunday 6
Belfast Giants v Sheffield Steelers (4pm)
Coventry Blaze v Glasgow Clan (5.15pm)
Manchester Storm v Nottingham Panthers (5.30pm)
Guildford Flames v Milton Keynes Lightning (6pm)
Fife Flyers v Cardiff Devils (6.30pm)
Elite results on Wednesday: Dundee Stars 1, Glasgow Clan 4; Nottingham Panthers 3, Guildford Flames 1; Fife Flyers 4, MK Lightning 3.
ELITE ICE HOCKEY LEAGUE 2018-19
| TEAM | GP | W | L | OTL | PTS | PCT | GF | GA | PIM | STREAK |
| Cardiff Devils | 32 | 23 | 5 | 4 | 50 | .781 | 128 | 83 | 380 | 3-0 |
| Belfast Giants | 33 | 24 | 8 | 1 | 49 | .742 | 125 | 74 | 458 | 0-1 |
| Nottingham Panthers | 37 | 20 | 10 | 7 | 47 | .635 | 121 | 109 | 608 | 2-0 |
| Fife Flyers | 32 | 17 | 11 | 4 | 38 | .594 | 110 | 104 | 444 | 1-0 |
| Glasgow Clan | 31 | 17 | 13 | 1 | 35 | .565 | 103 | 103 | 382 | 2-0 |
| Sheffield Steelers | 33 | 17 | 16 | 0 | 34 | .515 | 103 | 111 | 455 | 0-1 |
| Guildford Flames | 33 | 16 | 16 | 1 | 33 | .500 | 105 | 100 | 432 | 0-3 |
| Dundee Stars | 34 | 12 | 14 | 8 | 32 | .471 | 88 | 114 | 357 | 0-1 |
| Coventry Blaze | 31 | 12 | 13 | 6 | 30 | .484 | 100 | 118 | 385 | 0-1 |
| Manchester Storm | 33 | 13 | 17 | 3 | 29 | .439 | 94 | 121 | 806 | 1-0 |
| Milton Keynes Lightning | 33 | 10 | 21 | 2 | 22 | .333 | 79 | 119 | 622 | 0-4 |