Lightning goalie Patrick Killeen keeps out Jake Morissette. Pic: Richard Murray,

Georgs’ Latvian Lightning Strike Sends Devils Crashing

Milton Keynes Lightning had a late shock for Cardiff Devils at the Viola Arena.

Devils outshot their visitors 44-25, but they were denied by goaltender Patrick Killeen.

Charles Linglet and man of the match Joey Haddad scored for Devils, who led twice and had a Bryce Reddick ‘goal’ disallowed.

Lightning are bottom of Elite League, but they are playing with commitment and intensity under the club’s new coaching team, Tim Wallace and Ryan Lannon.

Latvian international Georgs Golovkovs, aged 23, shot down Cardiff, tying the game at 2-2 when he netted in the last minute after Lightning had pulled goalie Killeen in favour of an extra skater.

Then the Riga-born centre fired his second – and MK’s winner – three minutes 44 seconds into overtime.

Devils earned one League point because the score was 2-2 after regulation time, while Lightning earned two points.

The lone goal of the opening period came off a pass by Linglet, who was behind the goal. The puck somehow deflected off a Lightning defender and flew past netminder Patrick Killeen to make it 1-0 at the 14-41 mark of the game.

Eight minutes into the middle period and Devils were celebrating again when the puck went past Killeen, effort was disallowed with the referee ruling that Reddick was in the crease and the score stayed at 1-0 after 40 minutes.

Lightning tied the game with a powerplay goal on 41-36 into the third period, courtesy of Robbie Baillargeon. Devils took the lead again with a powerplay marker of their own from Haddad with a bullet from the blueline to make it 2-1 after 45-39. 

Devils looked favourites to hold on, but then came Lightning’s Latvian double with Golovkovs blasting the puck through traffic and past Bowns.

Devils still controlled the majority of play in overtime, but they couldn’t find a way past Killeen and with one minute 16 second left to play Golovkovs came up with the winner.

Match stats:

Scorers, Devils: Charlies Linglet 1+1, Joey Haddad 1+0, Drew Schiestel 0+1, Bryce Reddick 0+1, Mike Hedden 0+1.

Lightning: Georgs Golovkovs 2+0, Robbie Baillargeon 1+0, Clay Anderson 0+1, Andreas Valide 0+1, David Norris 0+1.

Period scores (Devils first): 1-0, 0-0 (1-0), 1-2 (2-2), 0-1 (2-3).

Shots on goal: Devils (on Killeen) 16+14+10+4=44; Lightning (on Bowns) 8+6+9+2=25.

Penalties in minutes: Devils 0+2+4=6; Lightning 2+4+4=10.

Special teams: Devils PK 2/3, PP 1/5; Lightning PK 4/5, Lightning 1/3.

Stars of the game: Devils, Joey Haddad; Lightning, Georgs Golovkovs.

Sunday results: Sheffield Steelers 4, Manchester Storm 1; Cardiff Devils 2, Milton Keynes Lightning 3; Guildford Flames 1, Belfast Giants 4; Fife Flyers 3, Dundee Stars 4 (after overtime and penalties), 

ELITE ICE HOCKEY LEAGUE 2018/19

TEAM GP W L OTL PTS PCT GF GA PIM STREAK
Belfast Giants 21 17 4 0 34 .810 83 40 304 9-0
Cardiff Devils 20 14 4 2 30 .750 81 55 217 0-1
Nottingham Panthers 23 13 7 3 29 .630 66 67 392 2-0
Fife Flyers 22 12 6 4 28 .636 78 70 315 0-5
Guildford Flames 20 12 8 0 24 .600 69 56 281 0-1
Sheffield Steelers 22 11 11 0 22 .500 69 74 347 4-0
Coventry Blaze 19 8 7 4 20 .526 63 68 266 0-3
Glasgow Clan 19 9 9 1 19 .500 56 66 260 0-1
Manchester Storm 21 8 11 2 18 .429 57 74 646 0-3
Dundee Stars 20 4 9 7 15 .375 48 73 242 2-0
Milton Keynes Lightning 21 6 13 2 14 .333 50 77 485 1-0

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