WEEK 20 of the 2025/26 Elite Ice Hockey League season and the Flyers are on their travels with a road doubleheader. They make an initial stop in Cardiff on Saturday night to meet the Devils before visiting the Midlands to meet the Coventry Blaze on Sunday.
SATURDAY JANUARY 24th CARDIFF DEVILS v FIFE FLYERS @ VINDICO ARENA – FACE OFF 7.00pm
Introducing the opposition & One to Watch!
The Devils come into the weekend sitting second in the standings behind the Belfast Giants. Leading the Devils in the scoring charts is second year forward Josh MacDonald. The 31-year-old MacDonald joined the Devils in the summer of 2024 having played for Krefeld in the German DEL2 the season before where he scored 16 goals and 16 assists in 36 games. He added 7 points in 7 playoff games (3 goals, 4 assists). Before that, he played two seasons for the then Devils’ Head Coach Pete Russell in Ravensburg (Germany) and together they won the DEL2 Championship in 2023. That season he scored 23 goals and 20 assists in 50 games and another 18 points (7 goals, 11 assists) in the playoffs. Prior to Russell signing him in Germany, he led the Aalborg Pirates in scoring with 26 goals and 31 assists in 44 games playing in the top Danish league. Originally from London, Ontario, MacDonald played 5 years in major junior, first with the Barrie Colts then with the Peterborough Petes of the OHL. In April 2025 MacDonald was announced as the first Devil to sign back for the 2025-26 season after he finished his first season as the Devils leading scorer with 28 goals and 29 assists for 57 points in 51 league games. MacDonald finished 6th in overall league scoring and tied for 4th in goals. He was voted onto the First Team EIHL All-Star team at the end of the season by the coaches and GMs across the Elite League and also won the Forward of the Year for the Devils. He helped the Devils win the IIHF Continental Cup last season and was voted as the tournament’s Top Forward, scoring 5 goals and 3 assists in 5 games. So far this term he has continued where he left off at the top of the Devils, scoring charts without yet having lit the lamp against the Flyers and picking up just 1 assists in his 16+12 in league play so far.
Last League Visit to Devils
GALLERY
Pic Credits – Cardiff Devils
Overall Away League Record Against Devils
P 34 W 5 L 29 F 64 A 156
Number Crunching
The Flyers have lost on their last 4 visits to the Vindico Arena and have been shutout on their last two meetings on Devils ice.
So far in meetings this season this season the Devils have 2 wins and the Flyers 1 win
In 73 meetings in all EIHL competitions the Flyers have never managed to put together back to back victories against the Devils but having won their last meeting have a chance to do so in this game.
Riley Brandt has the Devils active team leading points and goals streak at 3 games.
The Devils have given up the most powerplay goals on home ice of all teams so far this season.
The Flyers have killed 6 of 8 Cardiff powerplays in the three games this season and are 0 for 6 with the man advantage against the Devils who are the only team Flyers have not scored a powerplay goal against this term.
The Devils have conceded 15 first period goals in all EIHL competitions this season which is the fewest of all teams.
The Devils have scored the opening goal of a game 29 times this season which is the most of all teams whilst the Flyers have had the opening goal 14 times which is second fewest only to Dundee.
SUNDAY JANUARY 25th COVENTRY BLAZE v FIFE FLYERS @ SKYDOME ARENA – FACE OFF 5.30pm
Introducing the opposition & One to Watch!
If the Flyers are going to make a playoff spot then there is every likelihood that it will have to be at the expense of the Coventry Blaze so just as it was last weekend against the Stars this match up has the feel of another “four pointer”. Blaze however have stabilised results in the last few weeks and they have picked up 14 of 16 points in their last 8 games. Making a big contribution on the blueline this season both defensively as well as offensively is Finnish defenceman Jere Vertanen who completed the Blaze roster in the summer. The 26-year-old joined the Blaze after an impressive campaign in Poland with Unia Oswiecim, where he registered 32 points (seven goals, 25 assists) in 33 regular season games and added a further six points (three goals, three assists) in 11 playoff appearances. Vertanen also showcased his ability in the Champions Hockey League, scoring three points (one goal, two assists) in five games. Standing at 6’5”, Vertanen is a commanding presence on the blue line with a powerful shot. Before his move to Poland, he spent four seasons in Finland’s Mestis, where he built a reputation as one of the league’s top offensive defencemen. His standout year came in 2021/22, when he helped Ketterä to the Mestis Championship, contributing 35 points (eight goals, 27 assists) in 47 regular season games and a league-leading 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in 17 playoff games. That same season, he was named to the Mestis Second All-Star Team, led all defencemen in playoff goals, assists, and points, won the Suomen Cup, and earned a call-up to the Liiga, icing twice for Kärpät. Vertanen continued his strong form the following season, helping Ketterä reach the Playoff Final once again, where they secured a silver medal. Across his Mestis career, Vertanen played 162 regular season games, producing 121 points (35 goals, 86 assists), along with 23 points (8 goals, 15 assists) in 40 playoff appearances.
Last League Visit to Blaze
GALLERY
Pic Credits – Coventry Blaze
Overall League Away Record Against Blaze
P 33 W 9 L 24 F 80 A 144
Number Crunching
The Flyers have failed to return from the Skydome Arena with 2 points in each of their last 5 visits to the Midlands.
So far in meetings this season this season the Blaze have 2 wins and the Flyers 1 win
Giordano Finoro has goals in each of the 3 games with the Blaze this season
The Flyers are 90 percent on the kill against the Blaze so far this season giving up 1 powerplay goal on 10 kills whilst the Flyers are 1 for 8 with the man advantage against the Blaze.
Coming into the weekend Anton Karlsson has a 5 game points streak with the Blaze leaders in that department being Grant Mismash and Jordan Power who have points in the last 3 Blaze games.
The Blaze have been on the powerplay 147 times in all EIHL competitions which is the most of all teams.
Blaze have given up 7 short handed goals which is second most to the Storm who have conceded 8.
The Blaze have been on the penalty kill 138 times which is second most only to the Flyers 142.
