GAME THREAD: Devils v Steelers: Wed 27th.

[Doom]

The comeback is on.

At least we didn't crumble to the extent of a double figured mauling.

I'm not watching the game, but is our netty improving as the game is going on?

Regards

Doom

He looked a bit rusty but I'm not surprised by that, some good stops in there. We got off to a slow start, we improved after that but had no puck luck. We were the best hockey team for large parts of the game but nothing went for us. Coming back by winning the third period is a good sign of the morale in the squad, IBN played well, Dowd was quiet, lots still carrying injuries quite obviously. We lost and I can't argue the result but we didn't quit which still gives me confidence.

Thanks for the update Mark.

It doesn't sound as bad as the scoreline suggests, we just need a few breaks at the moment and to start getting players healthy again.

The key going forwards though will be the quality of netminding. Either the new netty needs to shake off the rust and step it up or Greener needs to be back ASAP.

Regards

Doom

[paul johnston]

Well that was a shocker and we were second best for most of the game.
Too little character, compete or doggedness. I dont know what to make of this team. Maybe missing the battle/strength of Allen, the hockey nous of Nicholls. The D is fragile with a lack of physicality.
Will be easy to blame the new netminder but the guys in front of him let him down.

[Brian]

I personally cant read much into the 2 goal comeback in the last few minutes. The game at 6-1 was over by then and Cardiff were coasting in. As Aaron says in his interview we had no jump or intensity early on and they outskated and outbattled us . We seemed slow and that may be people carrying injuries but we also lost 50/50 pucks and passed poorly.
The new goalie didn't get a lot of help and when he did let goals in I only saw Tansey going to him to commiserate.
Not sure how we outshot them although most of our shots were straight at Bownes who did play well.
I think the game illustrated what we have suspected for a while. Without Greenfield we are a different team .
Obviously players playing out of position ( Ulrick on defence ? ) had an effect and Cardiff is never an easy place to play. I'm a bit worried about the speedy forwards Nottingham have but we need a response on Saturday if we are to stay in this race.

[paul johnston]

With regards to moving Ulrick to D instead of Cole, I didn't see the logic in it and it didn't work. I thought Cole had a pretty solid game on D against the Stars so didn't really understand the rationale.

[welshcake]

Has anyone else noticed that Devils TV streams against the Steelers cost £15 but only £9.99 against other teams.

Hasn't been £9.99 for years now. £15 for everyone not just Steelers.

If that is the case welshcake then the webpage needs to be updated.

£9.99 is for the archived games all live games are £15...

[Daniel14]

Slept on it and I’m torn. The score line probably flattered devils and we did have good spells, bowns was brilliant; Huhtamaa wasn’t and we have to hope that it was just shaking off rust and he improves because you won’t win many hockey games giving up goals like some of those last night. That said our intensity at the start was awful and killed the game before it started. We came out like a team that expected to be beaten handsomely and Cardiff took full advantage. Giving the zone up that cheaply to a team as good as Cardiff will kill you in any game nevermind when you’ve got a new goalie coming in cold having only played twice this season.

Have faith in Fox to come out the other side of this but there’s too many passengers at present and can see further personnel changes coming. Big response needed against panthers, not necessarily even meaning we have to win but the effort from certain players has to be higher


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[smbmetal]

Slept on it and I’m torn. The score line probably flattered devils and we did have good spells, bowns was brilliant; Huhtamaa wasn’t and we have to hope that it was just shaking off rust and he improves because you won’t win many hockey games giving up goals like some of those last night. That said our intensity at the start was awful and killed the game before it started. We came out like a team that expected to be beaten handsomely and Cardiff took full advantage. Giving the zone up that cheaply to a team as good as Cardiff will kill you in any game nevermind when you’ve got a new goalie coming in cold having only played twice this season.

Have faith in Fox to come out the other side of this but there’s too many passengers at present and can see further personnel changes coming. Big response needed against panthers, not necessarily even meaning we have to win but the effort from certain players has to be higher

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I’m not sure how many more personnel changes we would be able to make looking at the roster rules for this season? We’ve already made 3 or 4, leaving maybe 1 or 2 further changes?

https://www.eliteleague.co.uk/article/3 ... or-2024-25

[Daniel14]

Not 100% sure but Ulrick is on a 2-way deal isn’t he? I get that as us having used 22 players assuming that huhtamaa is only here as IR. Which would give us 3 changes left and I do think the returnees have earned themselves the right to improve things I think there’s probably only 2 maybe 3 I’d change and even that is dependent on what is available and you don’t want to use every change you have early in the season but wouldn’t be too shocked to see outgoings and incomings if it continues.

In an ideal world though the players we have could get back on track and tide us over until the injury crisis is resolved


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Shaun]

Just had a look back through the scores and Cardiff beat us 5-3 in the CC, with Greener in net, so some consolation for the new guy.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[smbmetal]

Highlights

https://youtu.be/4MgacASSJrg?si=h9PwEQvR_j1yYmVj

I completely understand that our new goalie needed to shake some rustiness off, but I fail to see how one of our Brit goalies would have done any worse than Hutamaa did in this game.

Perhaps it was really too quick to throw him in this game and one of our Brit goalies would have been the better option here? Let Hutamaa get a good couple of training sessions behind him.