PREVIEW: Storm vs Cardiff Devils

TICKETS: Only 100 tickets remain for the Go Goodwin’s Manchester Storm match the Cardiff Devils on the 24th February 2018 at 7:00 pm, here at Planet Ice Altrincham in Elite League action! Tickets can be ordered online, by calling the box office on 0161 926 8782, or in person at the box office.

This Saturday sees a top of the table clash at Planet Ice Altrincham as the second-placed Go Goodwins sponsored Manchester Storm take on the league-leading Cardiff Devils in a 7:00 pm faceoff.

The Devils have opened up a 10-point lead at the top of the table, thanks to a 3-0 shutout victory away at Sheffield on Wednesday night. That result leaves the Devils on 73 points from 46 games and sees them needing a maximum of 14 points from their final 10 games to secure back-to-back league titles. Storm head the chasing pack with 63 points from 46 games, 3 points ahead of the Giants who have also played 46. Gardiner Conference champions Fife sit 5 points adrift of the Storm but have 4 games in hand, while the Sheffield Steelers are only a single point behind the Flyers. With at least 10 games left for the sides, there’s still possibility of movement up and down the table.

The Storm and the Devils have met twice this season, and have split the series with 1 win each. The Storm inflicted one of Cardiff’s 8 regulation-time losses in late-September, beating the Devils 6-1 in Cardiff. A Chris Auger hattrick, along with goals from Matt Stanisz, Dallas Ehrhardt, and Luke Moffatt secured the points for the Storm, helped out by a 37-save man of the match performance in nets from Mike Clemente. Joey Haddad scored the solitary goal for the Devils. Cardiff gained revenge in the next meeting between the sides, however they required overtime to grab the victory. Dane Byers started the scoring in the first period, before two Gleason Fournier powerplay goals put the Devils ahead. After a scoreless second period, Paul Swindlehurst put the Storm level before a late Andrew Hotham goal looked to have put the Devils beyond reach. Dane Byers grabbed his second of the night with 18 seconds left, however Sean Bentivoglio scored the overtime winner

Games don’t get any bigger than this, so make sure you get your tickets early as it looks like it’s going to be busy – there’s only 100 seats remaining!

One to watch: Matt Pope comes into the weekend on a 5-game pointstreak, picking up 5 assists and 1 goal. The British Columbia native is in his first Elite League season, scoring a point per game, and joined the Devils after leading the scoring in the Asian League last year.

MATCH DETAILS:

  • Doors open from 6 pm
  • Face-Off at 7 pm
  • SOTB & Stick Raffle is #61 Chris Auger
  • Match Sponsor is Toyota RRG Altrincham
  • 50/50 & “Chuck A Puck” will also be running! Buy your tickets from the OSC under Block 113
  • Tickets for the game can be bought from HERE
  • Webcast for the game can be bought HERE
  • The Station Hotel, official pub of the Storm, will be open pre & post game!
  • There will be FREE post-game ice skating & skate hire thanks to Planet Ice Altrincham!

TICKETS: Only 100 tickets remain for the Go Goodwin’s Manchester Storm match the Cardiff Devils on the 24th February 2018 at 7:00 pm, here at Planet Ice Altrincham in Elite League action! Tickets can be ordered online, by calling the box office on 0161 926 8782, or in person at the box office.