Cardiff hosts first Friday night game of the season

Photo: James Assinder

Week 2 of the 2026/27 season gets under way on Friday night as Cardiff Devils welcome Manchester Storm to what is expected to be a sold-out Vindico Arena in Challenge Cup action.

Cardiff split their opening weekend, beginning with a 3-1 home win over Guildford Flames before being edged out 3-2 by Coventry Blaze on Sunday.

Manchester, meanwhile, picked up a point in Nottingham on opening night after taking the Panthers all the way to a shootout. Their scheduled home game against Nottingham the following day was cancelled due to ice issues.

Friday therefore gives the Storm their first chance to get back on the ice since that opening-night game, while Cardiff return home looking for a second Challenge Cup win of the season.

Both teams go into this weekend outside of the top two places which bring an automatic berth in the Semi-Finals. With only 10 games for each team in Group B, there is little margin for error despite it only being the second weekend of the season.