By Eleanor Clifton
Cardiff Devils have a final chance to record an Elite League win against Belfast Giants this season when they welcome their bogey side to the Vindico Arena on Friday night.
Devils have lost six times this campaign to their opponents from across the Irish Sea and trail them in the standings by nine points – though both sides have already qualified for next month’s play-offs in Nottingham.
Pete Russell’s men go into their meeting with the Giants on the back of successive defeats to Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers, but before those defeats they were on a run of five successive wins.
The Opposition
Belfast are going into this game with only two league wins in their last six, both against Glasgow Clan.
They are also smarting from a 2-1 SO defeat to Glasgow.
However, as they have won all their games against Cardiff, they will obviously be confident.
The Giants have scored an impressive 174 goals this season, with 112 being scored against them. Forward, Scott Conway has scored most of these goals, hitting the net 23 times.
Players missing
Cardiff’s Mac Curruth has been suspended for two games following poor behaviour after Wednesday’s night game against Panthers towards a Panthers’ fan.
Reid Duke and Hunter Shinkaruk are still out with long-standing injuries.
For Belfast Kell Beattie is a doubt for this game.
Previous Meetings
The last time these two teams met was in the Challenge Cup final two weeks ago, Giants winning 4-0.
They were the stronger side the whole game and left no room for doubt about the outcome.
Prediction
Based on how both teams have played this season and the previous times they have faced each other, I think it’s going to be a 5-2 win to Giants, who simply appear to be the stronger side.