19th/20th December Weekend Preview

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Saturday 19th December: Cardiff Devils (4th) v Excel Hull Stingrays (8th) @ Cardiff Bay Ice Rink, F/O 7pm
Sunday 20th December: Excel Hull Stingrays (8th) v Nottingham Panthers (3rd) Hull Arena, F/O 6pm

Form
Stingrays: L W L L L
Cardiff: L W W L W
Nottingham: W W W L W

Last 3 Meetings
v Cardiff
26/09/09 4-1 L A
31/10/09 5-7 L H
22/11/09 5-1 L A

v Nottingham
29/09/09 2-4 L H
10/10/09 3-2 OTL A
13/12/09 4-3 SOL A

Season Series
v Cardiff: 1-4, 2 points, 13 GF, 23 GA
v Nottingham: 0-3, 2 point, 8 GF, 10 GA

Players to Watch
Stingrays: Adam Knight (23GP 2+4 138PIM) Without defencemen Craig Mitchell and James Hutchinson, versatile Knight will fill in on defence as he once again faces the same Cardiff side that saw him banned for five games earlier in the season. While he does provide the Rays with some much needed brawn, he has hit the net just twice this season after encouraging offensive displays in pre-season, and so more will be expected this weekend, even from defence.

Cardiff: Ryan Finnerty (1GP 0+4 0 PIM) After sealing the double with Sheffield last season, fierce competitor Finnerty, thought to be one of the key players in that Steelers squad, returned to the UK last weekend after beginning the season in the IHL. In his first game back he helped himself to four assists in Cardiff's surprisingly comfortable victory over Belfast as the Devils are starting to show that they have title winning capabilities.

Nottingham: Jade Galbraith (31GP 14+34 46PIM) This time last season Galbraith was being berated by the Panthers considerable fan base for his incredibly inconsistent performances while carrying some extra timber. 12 months and one apology to Nottingham fans later and there is nothing of the sort, as the Canadian sits second in the league in points (48) and has become the Panthers most consistent performer.

Between the Pipes
Stingrays: Tommy Sandahl (29GP 89.5sv.% 4.25GAA)
Cardiff: Stevie Lyle (30GP 90.8sv.% 2.86GAA)
Panthers: Kevin St-Pierre (31GP 90.8sv.% 3GAA)

Absentees
Stingrays: Sylvain Cloutier (knee), Craig Mitchell (GB U20 call up), Matty Davies (GB U20 call up), James Hutchinson (hand)

Cardiff: Full Strength

Panthers: Kevin Bergin (foot), Ross Dalgleish (shoulder), Stevie Lee (GB U20 call up), Tom Norton (GB U20 call up)

Prediction
Cardiff 2-0 Stingrays
Stingrays 2-4 Nottingham