Weekend Preview: Devils v Storm

The Devils face the Manchester Storm twice this weekend, at home on Saturday and in Manchester on Sunday. 

The Storm have started hot, sitting at or near the top of the league table since the season began.  Currently they are in third place, a point behind Sheffield and Nottingham (joint league leaders) but the Storm have a game in hand. 

ONES TO WATCH:  Mitchell Martan leads the Storm in scoring right now with 3 goals and 6 assists for 9 points in 8 games between Cup and League.  Martan is in his first year of pro after playing the last 5 years in university, four with Canisius College and last season with Bemidji State, both in the top level of NCAA hockey in America. 

Pictured above: Will Merchant and Mitchell Martan celebrate a goal (photo Mark Ferris)

On the blueline, former NHLer Joe Morrow leads his team in ice time, averaging just over 23 minutes a game right now.  The former first round NHL Draft pick played 162 NHL games, most recently with the Winnipeg Jets back in 2018-19. 

Netminder Evan Weninger is the Storm’s most valuable player right now, leading the league in save percentage over 4 league games with a save rate of 94.56%.  His numbers in the Challenge Cup went way down after Sunday’s 6-3 loss to the Sheffield Steelers, but Weninger is the key for the Storm so far.  In 8 games played (Cup and League) he has a 91.64% save rate and a goals against average of 3.16.

Pictured above: Evan Weninger is expected to start both games this weekend (photo Mark Ferris)

SPECIAL TEAMS:  Next to goaltending, the biggest factor to the Storm’s success right now has been their special teams.  Their penalty kill is the best in the league at 85.71%.  The Devils aren’t far behind at 80%, but it is their powerplay that has been dominant, clicking at 30%.  To put that in perspective, the best powerplay in the Elite League last season was 26.55%.  Now it has only been 4 league games, but the point is, the Devils will need to be sharp on the penalty kill this weekend or better yet, stay out of the sin bin.

Pictured above: Ben Bowns led the Devils to two wins last weekend (photo James Assinder)

WHAT ABOUT THE DEVILS:  Ben Bowns was outstanding last weekend in both games. On Saturday he made 23 saves in the 5-0 win over the Blaze then on Sunday he stopped 35 shots in the 6-3 win over Guildford.  In 6 games (Cup and League), he has a save percentage of 92.5% and a goals against average of 2.16. 

Pictured above:  Josh Waller against Coventry last weekend (photo James Assinder)

WHO’S HOT:  Josh Waller scored twice in Guildford on Sunday against his old club after going pointless in his previous 4 games to start the season.  Riley Brandt has scored three games in a row and has been playing his best hockey since coming to Cardiff.  Trevor Cox continues to lead the team in overall scoring with 5 goals and 6 assists for 11 points in 8 games (Cup and League).  He had a goal and an assist in both games last weekend. 

Pictured above: Brandon Alderson celebrates his goal last Saturday (photo James Assinder)

WHO’S IN:  Evan Mosey is unlikely to play this weekend but is hopeful for the following weekend.  Brandon Alderson will return from his one-game ban that he received in his first game as a Devil last Saturday night.  He scored on his first shot, a powerplay goal to open the scoring at 4:41 against the Blaze.  Watch the highlights below of last weekend’s home win. 

This weekend preview is brought to you by Revolution Bar located in Cardiff city centre directly across from Cardiff Castle.  Revolution has great food and drinks and if you show your ticket, you get free entry after a game on weekends.  They are a great place to catch up with friends or grab a delicious lunch during the week or before a game.