Goal. Man of the match Drew Schiestel shows his delight. Pic: Dave Williams.

Champions Devils Back In Elite League Top Spot

Reigning champions Cardiff Devils are top of Elite League after producing one of their best team performances this season.

A sell-out 3,000-plus attendance at the Viola Arena watched Devils blitz Coventry Blaze during the opening period and the home team opened a 5-1 lead.

It was an all-action first period full of big hits, physical challenges and a fight in which Cardiff’s Evan Mosey caught Blaze forward Alex Nikiforuk with big uppercut.

Matthew Myers netted early in the second period, but that effort was ruled out after the referees studied video replays. That decision could have gone either way, but the officials decided there was a slight kicking motion before the puck went in off Myers’ skate.

Devils hit the mark. Mike Hedden on target. Pic: Dave Williams.

There were two more goals, one for either team, in the third period and Devils skated away with a comfortable home win.

They jump above Belfast Giants into top spot, although the team from Northern Ireland could regain first place when they play Milton Keynes Lightning at home on Friday.

A quick start by Cardiff saw them lead 2-0 inside four minutes as man of the match Drew Scheistel scored both a powerplay and shorthanded marker to put the Devils in control. 

Ben Lake pulled it back to 2-1 at 7-09 with a brilliant solo effort, but with 2-42 left in the period Layne Ulmer had the home side back two ahead. 

Blaze then collapsed before the period was out. Charles Linglet scored 19 seconds later and Mike Hedden made it 5-1 at 18-13.

Joy for Devils after Layne Ulmer’s goal. Pic: Dave Williams.

With 3-52 left Alex Forbes brought the game back to 5-2, but the four-goal win was completed with Joey Haddad’s goal at 58-33.

Match stats:

Scorers, Devils: Drew Scheistel 2+0, Layne Ulmer 1+0, Charles Linglet 1+1, Joey Haddad 1+0, Mike Hedden 1+1, Stephen Dixon 0+2, Gleason Fournier 0+2, Joey Martin 0+2, Sean Bentivoglio 0+1, Mark Richardson 0+1, 

Blake: Ben Lake 1+1, Alex Forbes 1+0, Tim Crowder 0+2, Ross Venus 0+1.

Period scores (Devils first): 5-1; 0-0 (5-1); 1-1 (6-2).

Shots on goal: Devils (on Koprive/Hedley) 5+7+8=20; Blaze (on Bowns) 15+10+7=32.

Penalties in minutes: Devils 7+4+2=13; Blaze 9+0+0=9.

Special teams: Devils PK 4/4, PP 2/2; Blaze PK 0/2, PP 0/4.

Referees: Stefan Hogarth and Dean Smith.

Attendance: 3,100.

Men of the match: Devils, Drew Scheistel; Blaze, Ben Lake.

Layne Ulmer in front of the Blaze net. Pic: Dave Williams.

Devils fixtures:

2018

December

Sunday 30 v Guildford Flames (away, 6pm)

2019

Tuesday 1 v Guildford Flames (home, 4pm)

Saturday 5 v Manchester Storm (home, 7pm)

Sunday 6 v Fife Flyers (away, 6.30pm)

Saturday 12 v Glasgow Clan (away, 7pm)

Sunday 13 v Nottingham Panthers (home, 6pm)

Saturday 19 v Belfast Giants (home, 7pm)

Sunday 20 v Belfast Giants (home, 4pm)

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.

Other Elite League results on Thursday: Fife Flyers 3, Dundee Stars 0; Guildford Flames 6, MK Lightning 3; Sheffield Steelers 5, Nottingham Panthers 3; Glasgow Clan 3, Manchester Storm 4.

ELITE ICE HOCKEY LEAGUE 2018/19

TEAM GP W L OTL PTS PCT GF GA PIM STREAK
Cardiff Devils 30 21 5 4 46 .767 122 79 364 1-0
Belfast Giants 30 22 7 1 45 .750 113 66 433 1-0
Nottingham Panthers 34 18 9 7 43 .632 109 100 544 0-2
Fife Flyers 30 16 10 4 36 .600 104 96 411 1-0
Guildford Flames 30 16 13 1 33 .550 100 91 414 2-0
Sheffield Steelers 31 16 15 0 32 .516 94 102 431 2-0
Glasgow Clan 28 15 12 1 31 .554 90 95 332 0-1
Dundee Stars 32 11 13 8 30 .469 84 108 345 0-1
Coventry Blaze 29 11 12 6 28 .483 92 109 375 0-1
Manchester Storm 31 12 16 3 27 .435 85 112 794 1-0
Milton Keynes Lightning 31 10 19 2 22 .355 75 110 602 0-2

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