Cardiff Devils scored eight goals and extended their unbeaten run to 10 matches with a powerful team performance.
Captain Jake Morissette and his Devils defeated Dundee Stars 8-1 in front of 3,000 spectators at Ice Arena Wales.
It was a clinical and impressive display by the home team with their eight goals shared among seven players
Reigning champions Devils kept their 2017-18 chase for honours on target, while coach Andrew Lord was able to give back-up goaltender Thomas Murdy, Luke Piggott and Toms Rutkis valuable ice time.
Murdy played for half of the game and kept a personal clean sheet, while man of the match Piggott scored the eighth goal and Rutkis weighed in with an assist.
Devils still have three matches to play in 2017 including home clashes with Coventry Blaze and Milton Keynes Lightning. Blaze come to Cardiff Bay on Boxing Day (6pm), while Lightning are at the IAW on Saturday, December 30 (7pm).
Cardiff’s powerplay was hugely successful, going three for five with the man advantage, while the penalty kill was perfect and Devils scored a short-handed goal.
Morissette opened the scoring at the 10-minute mark with a perfect backhand over the shoulder of netminder Travis Fullerton, while Stars tied things up through Adam Harding (13-46).
That seemed to sting Devils and they completely dominated the remaining two and a bit periods.
Sean Bentivoglio netted on the powerplay at 17-25 and two minutes later Andrew Hotham made it 3-1 with a PP blast from the blueline that sailed over the shoulder of Fullerton at 19-24.
Devils struck with another powerplay goal after 21-23 when Patrick Asselin was the scorer.
Morissette scored his second shorthanded at 32-33 and Layne Ulmer made it 6-1 on a goal that took a referee’s review before it was confirmed (33-32).
Murdy replaced Ben Bowns between the pipes halfway through the game and turned aside all 13 shots he faced.
There were still two more goals to come for Devils with Matt Pope (44-59) and Piggott (46-18).
Match stats:
Scorers, Devils: Jake Morissette 2+0, Sean Bentivoglio 1+3, Andrew Hotham 1+3, Patrick Asselin 1+2, Layne Ulmer 1+0, Matt Pope 1+0, Luke Piggott 1+0, Joey Martin 0+1, Joey Haddad 0+3, Tyson Strachan 0+1, Justin Faryna 0+1, Toms Rutkis 0+1.
Stars: Adam Harding 1+0, Gabriel Levesque 0+1.
Period scores (Devils first): 3-1; 3-0 (6-1); 2-0 (8-1).
Shots on goal: Devils (on Fullerton) 12+16+12=40; Stars (on Bowns/Murdy) 5+7+10=22.
Penaltes in minutes: Devils 0+4+0=4; Stars 6+4+0=10.
Powerplays: Devils 3/5; Stars 0/2.
Stars of the game: Devils, Luke Piggott; Stars, Adam Harding.
Attendance: 2,955
Referee: Stefan Hogarth
Cardiff Devils remaining fixtures during December:
Tuesday 26 v Coventry Blaze (home, 6pm)
Wednesday 27 v Coventry Blaze (away, 7.30pm)
Saturday 30 v MK Lightning (home, 7pm)
Tickets for Cardiff’s home fixture against Dundee Stars on Saturday (7pm) are available and ticket information can be obtained via ONLINE HERE
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