Cardiff Devils came up with the perfect response. They were devastated by the Challenge Cup defeat against Glasgow Clan, but fired up hopes of a third successive Elite League title.

On the night leaders Belfast Giants lost against Dundee Stars, Devils powered to a 5-2 win against Manchester Storm away.

Devils earned more than an hour in penalties and had defenceman Mark Louis thrown out on a game penalty, but this was a gutsy, spirited team performance.

The win moved the Devils into second place in the Elite League standings, two points behind leaders Giants with two games in hand.

Make no mistake, the quality of any team must be measured in how they respond to adversity. Devils were awful against Lightning in their cup defeat, but stormed back to crush Manchester.

Gleason Fournier scored twice and Ben Bowns made 29 saves in the 5-2 win over the Manchester Storm.

Fournier opened the scoring after one minute 14 seconds with Joey Martin and Matt Pope picking up assists on the opening goal. 

Storm fired back at 10-22 when Dallas Ehrhardt scored on the powerplay to tie the game at 1-1 before Fournier scored his second (14-58) on the powerplay to give the Devils a 2-1 lead.

Less than two minutes into the middle period Storm tied the game up with their second powerplay goal of the game and the second from Ehrhardt to make it 2-2 at 21-49.  

The third period was all Devils as the visitors scored three times to take the win. 

The go-ahead goal came on the powerplay with Joey Haddad scoring short-side after a pass from Charles Linglet at 43-44 to make it 3-2.  

Linglet was also the playmaker on the next goal, setting up Mike Hedden with a perfect pass to put the Devils up 4-2 at 51-14.

Joey Martin fired a wrist shot from just inside the blueline to score the Devils fifth goal of the night at 56-10.

The game finished with Mark Louis and Shane Bakker dropping the gloves with 35 seconds to play after a slash from Bakker on Fournier in the final minute of play.

Match stats:

Scorers, Storm:Dallas Erhardt 2+0, Rob Linemayer 0+2, Riley Stade 0+1, Evan Richardson 0+1.

Devils: Gleason Fournier 2+0, Joey Haddad 1+0, Mike Hedden 1+0, Joey Martin 1+2, Matt Pope 0+1, Layne Ulmer 0+1, Charles Linglet 0+2, Drew Shiestel 0+1, Bryce Reddick 0+1, Mark Richardson 0+1.

Period scores (Storm first) 1-2; 1-0 (2-2); 0-3 (2-5).

Shots on goal: Storm (on Bowns) 11+11+9=31; Devils (on Ginn) 10+16+19=45.

Penalties in minutes: Storm 9+6+15=30; Devils 34+0+35=69.

Special teams: Storm PK 4/6, PP 2/12; PK 10/12, PP 2/6.

Men of the match: Storm, Dallas Erhardt; Devils, Joey Martin.

Referees: Dean Smith and Andrew Dalton.

Attendance: 1,250.

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.

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)