Andrew Lord’s remarkable Challenge Cup record has ended – and Devils’ head coach is fuming.
Elite League champions Devils slumped to defeat and Lord described the team performance as ‘disgusting’ and added: “It makes me sick.”
Lord was clearly struggling for the right words during his post-match interview, but was brutally honest.
@Credit to Glasgow, who brought it all night,” said Lord. “We didn’t. We brought it in the third.
“When you do that it’s a gamble. We gambled and it didn’t pay off.
“A big thing is how many people and guys have laid it on the line over the last four years to turn this organisation around. Sacrifices, a willingness to do all the little things, physicalality, competitive spirit, team spirit.
“To see that for one period, if that, is absolutely disgusting to me. It makes me sick. To see some guys straight up not show up is not good enough.
“That falls on me as a coach. I wasn’t good enough and made some poor decisions.”
Lord had led his Cardiff Devils team to the cup final in all four seasons since he took charge of the Elite League team.
Devils lifted the trophy twice and finished runners-up twice, but they crashed out in their quarter-final against Glasgow Clan on Friday.
Clan lost the first leg 4-3 in Scotland and Devils were hot favourites to join Nottingham Panthers and Belfast Giants in the last four.
But Glasgow went through, winning the second leg 6-4 after overtime at the Viola Arena to clinch a 9-8 aggregate win.
On a frustrating evening for Devils fans the winning goal was a shorthanded effort during sudden death overtime.
“Man for man we were magnificent against a top team,” said Clan coach Peter Russell. “I am proud of every player.”
There is one place to be filled in the semi-finals. Sheffield Steelers and Guildford Flames are level at 4-4 after the first leg of their clash.
Devils opened the scoring midway through the first period on the powerplay with man of the match Layne Ulmer pouncing on a rebound after a shot from Gleason Fournier to make it 1-0.
Two minutes later, Glasgow levelled on the night with a powerplay goal from Scott Pitt.
The first period ended 1-1 and Devils still held the one-goal aggregate advantage.
At 29-59, the Clan took the lead through a strange goal when a Gerard Hanson shot hit a defence man, flew into the air and dropped into the net behind goalie Ben Bowns. The effort was credited to Hanson.
Hanson scored his second of the game at 37-28 when he snuck the puck between a post and Bowns to put Glasgow up 3-1 on the night before Ulmer scored to level the aggregate score (38-23).
Joey Haddad tied the game on the night and edged Devils in front overall when he scored at 48-58, firing over goalie Joel Rumpel’s shoulder.
At 51-16 Clan were back in front with another powerplay goal, this time from Travis Ehrhardt to make it 4-3 on the night.
Vaclav Stupka put the Clan in front on the aggregate score with just under three minutes to play, but Devils pulled Bowns and sent out an extra skater.
Fournier tied the aggregate score with 28 seconds left in regulation to send the game into overtime.
Devils had a golden opportunity to win the game when they were awarded a powerplay in overtime, but Clan’s Matt Haywood fired a shorthanded goal to end Cardiff’s Challenge Cup hopes.
Match stats:
Scorers, Devils: Layne Ulmer 2+1, Gleason Fournier 1+2, Joey Martin 0+2, Joey Haddad 0+1, Mark Louis 0+1, Mike Hedden 0+1.
Clan: Gerard Hanson 2+0, Scott Pitt 1+1, Travis Erhardt 1+1, Vaclav Stucke 1+0, Matt Beca 0+3, Scott Tansk 0+2, Matt Haywood 0+2, Zack Fitzgerald 0+1, Matt Stanisz 0+1.
Period scores (Devils first): 1-1; 1-2 (2-3); 2-2 (4-5); 0-1 (4-6).
Shots on goal: Devils (on Rumpel) 11+9+2+0=22; Clan (on Bowns) 20+12+2+1=35.
Penalties in minutes: Devils 6+0+4+0=10; Clan 4+0+4+2=10.
Special teams: Devils PK 3/5, PP 1/5; Clan PK 4/5, PP 2/5.
Stars of the game: Devils, Layne Ulmer; Clan, Gerard Hanson.
Referee: Dean Smith and Stefan Hogarth.
Attendance: 2,176.
TICKETS for Devils home games available ONLINE HERE or by calling 0800 0842 666 or in person at the reception desk at VIOLA ARENA right up until face-off at 6pm.
Devils remaining fixtures in December.
Saturday 15 v Manchester Storm (away, 7pm)
Thursday 20 v MK Lightning (away, 7.30pm)
Saturday 22 v Dundee Stars (home, 7pm)
Sunday 23 v Guildford Flames (away, 6pm)
Wednesday 26 v Coventry Blaze (away, 6pm)
Thursday 27 v Coventry Blaze (home, 7pm)