Andrew Lord is putting any plans for a big 34th birthday bash on ice in Belfast this evening (Friday).

It’s Lord’s birthday today and he celebrates by sending his Cardiff Devils players into battle against Belfast Giants at the SSE Arena in Northern Ireland.

The title rivals clash twice in two days, more than 600 Devils fans are in Belfast for matches and Lord says: “That’s just insane.

“The 400 or so we had last season was tremendous and now there are over 600 fans who have followed their team to Belfast.

“The support of Devils fans will be huge for us and I really can’t wait.

“It’s a hugely important weekend. 

“There is just over a month left of the season and every game is like a play-off final game now – for both us and Belfast.

“These will be two tremendous games of hockey between two great teams. We know how good Belfast are.

“They have such a talented and deep roster and they’ll want to get us back after the double-header in Cardiff. 

“It’s going to be really tough and I’ll need all my guys to really stick to the game plan, give it their all and stay focused for the full 60 minutes.”

Devils and Giants clashed twice in two days at the Viola Arena in Cardiff Bay last month and Cardiff won both, 4-2 and 5-2.

Lord’s men go into Belfast three points ahead in the Elite League table with a game in hand.

Devils have picked up at least a point in their last five games, winning four of them, and have only suffered three defeats in their last 17 matches.

The two matches on Friday and Saturday are a match-up of the league’s best home team against the EIHL’s most formidable group on the road. 

Giants haven’t lost at home in 2019, an unbeaten run stretching back 12 games to December 30 December.

Cardiff’s Joey Martin has scored in six successive matches with nine goals and 13 points in total.

Giants’ head coach Adam Keefe said: “We want to give our fans something to cheer about and that will be the focus going into Friday’s game.

“Cardiff are a quality side who have won back-to-back championships for a reason. These matches will be a great test for our guys and our club.

“I will be looking for our team’s best. Given the circumstances, I am certain our guys will rise to the occasion.” 

While Cardiff Devils are in Northern Ireland for their crunch clashes with Giants, there is senior hockey at the Viola Arena in South Wales when Cardiff Fire play Solent Devils in the National League this Sunday, February 24 (6pm), while they entertain Peterborough Phantoms in Cardiff Bay on Saturday, March 2 (6.30pm).

Cardiff Fire match tickets available on the door or buy online at http://bit.ly/cardiff-fire 

Cardiff Devils remaining 14 Elite League fixtures

February 

Friday 22 v Belfast Giants (away, 7pm)

Saturday 23 v Belfast Giants (away, 7pm)

Wednesday 27 v Glasgow Clan (home, 7.30pm)

March

Saturday 2 v Coventry Blaze (away, 7pm)

Sunday 3 v Sheffield Steelers (home, 4pm) – this game does not count on season tickets

Thursday 7 v Fife Flyers (away, 7.30pm)

Friday 8 v Guildford Flames (home, 7.30pm)

Saturday 16 v Sheffield Steelers (away, 7pm)

Sunday 17 v Glasgow Clan (home, 6pm)

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)

ELITE ICE HOCKEY LEAGUE 2018/19

TEAM	GP	W	L	OTL	PTS	PCT	GF	GA	PIM	STREAK
Cardiff Devils	46	34	7	5	73	.793	188	122	533	2-0
Belfast Giants	47	34	11	2	70	.745	185	119	603	0-1
Glasgow Clan	48	29	15	4	62	.646	176	141	607	2-0
Nottingham Panthers	51	24	18	9	57	.559	153	160	810	0-2
Guildford Flames	50	25	20	5	55	.550	162	153	616	4-0
Sheffield Steelers	50	24	23	3	51	.510	148	171	683	0-2
Fife Flyers	45	22	18	5	49	.544	147	154	647	0-2
Coventry Blaze	46	21	18	7	49	.533	167	180	579	3-0
Dundee Stars	48	18	18	12	48	.500	135	163	451	0-1
Manchester Storm	49	21	23	5	47	.480	142	168	1021	1-0
Milton Keynes Lightning	48	12	32	4	28	.292	116	188	849	0-3