Cardiff Devils can move to within a point of Elite League leaders Sheffield Steelers this evening – if they beat Fife Flyers at the Viola Arena.
Steelers have to wait and watch this evening with title-chasing rivals Devils, Nottingham Panthers and Belfast Giants all in action.
Head coach Andrew Lord and his Devils are currently second, three points behind Sheffield with four games in hand.
Steelers have lost their last four fixtures, going down against Dundee Stars at home and Fife Flyers away over the weekend, and American coach Aaron Fox said: “We are looking over our shoulders. We are not in a commanding position any more.
“We have put ourselves in a really tough spot. We needed four points over last weekend if we wanted to be considered title favourites, but now we are on the outside looking in with a lot of work to do.
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“Thankfully, we play Devils twice, Belfast and Nottingham once each. We still have a chance to be there at the end, but this last weekend hurt us.”
Steelers have led the EIHL table for most of this season, but the chasing pack are closing in. Remarkably, three of the leading clubs – Cardiff, Sheffield and Belfast – all lost on Sunday.
Devils crashed 6-3 against Guildford Flames, Steelers went down v Fife in Scotland and Giants crashed 4-0 at Nottingham Panthers.
Wednesday EIHL fixtures: Glasgow Clan v Nottingham Panthers, Cardiff Devils v Fife Flyers, Guildford Flames v Belfast Giants (all 7.30pm).
Cardiff Devils
14 fixtures left (30 points maximum – 8 home, 6 away)
February
Wednesday 19 v Fife Flyers
Saturday 22 v Guildford Flames
Sunday 23 @ Coventry Blaze
Saturday 29 @ Nottingham Panthers
March
Sunday 1 v Dundee Stars
Friday 6 v Sheffield Steelers
Sunday 8 v Sheffield Steelers – Challenge Cup Final at the Viola Arena, Cardiff Bay (4pm)
Saturday 14 v Guildford Flames
Sunday 15 @ Dundee Stars
Wednesday 18 v Coventry Blaze
Saturday 21 @ Nottingham Panthers
Sunday 22 v Manchester Storm
Wednesday 25 @ Glasgow Clan
Saturday 28 v Belfast Giants
Sunday 29 @ Sheffield Steelers
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Elite League standings
| # | Team | GP | Score | Pts |
| 1 | Sheffield Steelers | 44 | 186:137 | 57 |
| 2 | Cardiff Devils | 40 | 135:119 | 54 |
| 3 | Nottingham Panthers | 41 | 130:105 | 53 |
| 4 | Belfast Giants | 4 | 125:106 | 52 |
| 5 | Coventry Blaze | 42 | 157:145 | 50 |
| 6 | Guildford Flames | 41 | 126:121 | 47 |
| 7 | Glasgow Clan | 42 | 130:163 | 37 |
| 8 | Manchester Storm | 43 | 108:135 | 37 |
| 9 | Dundee Stars | 43 | 135:162 | 36 |
| 10 | Fife Flyers | 44 | 113:152 | 30 |