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Managing director Todd Kelman says this weekend’s Elite League play-off finals weekend can be “a great equaliser” for Cardiff Devils .<\/span><\/p>\n Devils had a below-par campaign, finishing fourth and only reaching the Challenge Cup quarter-finals.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n But success at Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena for a fourth straight play-off championship would turn around perceptions of the 2022-23 season.<\/span><\/p>\n “All stats are kind of thrown out,” Kelman told Radio Wales Sport.<\/span><\/p>\n “It’s the beauty of the play-offs, it’s a great equaliser.<\/span><\/p>\n “No matter what you did in the regular season, it comes down to a home and away quarter-final and then the finals weekend. <\/span><\/p>\n “It’s a one-off semi-final and final so really anything can happen.”<\/span><\/p>\n Having won the play-off title in 2018 and 2019, Devils returned from a two-season break due to Covid-19 and beat Belfast Giants 6-3 in 2022 to lift the trophy once more.<\/span><\/p>\n The last two successes have both been against Giants, who were looking to secure an Elite League grand slam after winning the regular season and Challenge Cup titles.<\/span><\/p>\n This year Giants are the team to beat once more, having once again won the other two pieces of silverware.<\/span><\/p>\n Giants face Nottingham Panthers in Saturday’s first semi-final, before Devils take on rivals Sheffield Steelers for a place in Sunday’s final.<\/span><\/p>\n “It doesn’t matter what your season record against each other is,” said Kelman.<\/span><\/p>\n “We’ve had a lot of success here the last few years, we’re excited to be here and I don’t think anyone can count us out.<\/span><\/p>\n “But you can’t really count out any team, even Nottingham who upset Guilford Flames deserve to be here and I’m sure Belfast aren’t taking them lightly either.”<\/span><\/p>\n Like Devils, Steelers have not had as much success this campaign as their fanbase expects, finishing the regular season in third place.<\/span><\/p>\n But one of the two heavyweights of British ice hockey will get the chance on Sunday to finish their season on a high.<\/span><\/p>\n “Everyone’s pumped about it,” added Kelman.<\/span><\/p>\n “It’s such a big game because we’ve both hit below expectations for our season, so the fact that one of us gets to play in the final game is exciting.<\/span><\/p>\n “It’s a good thing that fourth place is considered a bad season. <\/span><\/p>\n “There were times, probably nine years ago before we got here before we took over and bought the team, that the Devils were a ninth or 10th-place team. <\/span><\/p>\n “So the fact that our fan base expects championships and expects success is a great thing, and that was our goal. <\/span><\/p>\n “We wanted to raise the expectations and we’ve done that, and so you know when fourth place becomes a poor season for the Cardiff Devils, that’s a really good thing. <\/span><\/p>\n