Giants hand Devils first home defeat of EIHL season

Cardiff Devils won 5-2 at home against Belfast Giants in the league earlier in October [James Assinder]Cardiff Devils suffered their first home defeat of the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) season as Belfast Giants claimed a 4-1 win at Vindico Arena.

>The Devils had boasted a 100% home record across 14 league, cup, and pre-season matches in 2026-27.

>After a goalless first period Belfast scored twice in the second through David Goodwin on the powerplay and Scott Conway.

>Logan Cockerill extended the visitors' lead early in the third, before Thomas Caron claimed his first Devils goal.

>However, the Giants restored their three-goal advantage with a Kaleb Pearson penalty shot.

>"With and without the puck, everything was tedious and looked like really hard work," said Devil's head coach Paul Thompson.

>"Take nothing away from Belfast they totally deserved the win and we just couldn't get it going."

>Cardiff remain top of the EIHL standings, with nine points from six games before hosting Guildford Flames on Saturday, 31 October.

>The Welsh club have also been confirmed as Challenge Cup semi-finalists following Sheffield Steelers 5-2 win against Manchester Storm.

>However, Devils back-to-back Cup wins last weekend - 4-2 at Nottingham Panthers and 1-0 at home to Steelers - could explain his side's lack-lustre showing against Belfast according to Thompson.

>"I don't make excuses and I think our fans know that," added the veteran coach.

>"I mean we're deeply disappointed but I know I pushed a lot of players and played a lot of players a lot of minutes last weekend and today we just looked like we didn't have any jump.

>"We were second to every puck and I know my own team, and I know how they can perform, and we weren't even at 50% of where I think that was and maybe the weekend took more out of us than I thought it would."