Mark Richardson and goalie Ben Bowns face the Storm. Pic: Helen Brabon.

Fournier Kills Storm In Coast-To-Coast Devils Delight

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Cardiff Devils 3, Manchester Storm 1

Gleason Fournier had Cardiff Devils fans celebrating wildly when he scored a magnificent coast-to-coast goal at the Viola Arena.

Fabulous Fournier, a smooth skating defenceman of the highest order, left Manchester Storm gasping with the quality of his goal.

Devils and Storm were locked at 1-1 when Fournier skated from one end of the ice to the other and bamboozled goalie Matt Ginn with a magnificent finish.

Icetime TV lead commentator Gareth Huish summed up the goal, saying: “Fournier skates with the grace of a swan – and his wrist shot had the venomous bite of a rattlesnake.”

Former Devils captain Ryan Finnerty is Storm’s coach and said: “For 51 minutes we plated a really good hockey game.

“Two of our guys were caught below the top of the circle in the offensive zone and the way we play that’s not good.

“Fournier made us pay for that. It was an error on our part, but a great goal for Devils.”

Storm went through the 60 minutes without taking a penalty for the second time in three matches, but they were undone by Devils goals from Mike Hedden, Fournier and Matt Pope.

Devils coach Andrew Lord and his team are on their way ti Scotland for Sunday’s Elite clash with Fife Flyers.

Lord’s men earned a tight win against Manchester Storm to stay ahead top of the table.

Hedden scored at 11-17 when Fournier’s shot saved by goalie Ginn and the loose puck was fired high from the rebound.

Manchester were level before the period was over after Dallas Ehrhardt’s shot was blocked by a Devils’ defenceman and Mike Hammond followed up from the slot to fire past Bowns to level the scores at 15-18.

It was still 1-1 after 40 minutes, but then Fournier’s wonder goal left Storm down and out.

Fournier’s finish, high over Ginn’s shoulder at 46-40 stunned Storm.

An excellent solo goal by Matt Pope, cutting in from the wing across Gin and finishing five-hole, secured the Devils the points with just over two minutes to go.

Devils finished with 41 shots on goal, while Bowns made 17 saves for the win.

Match stats

Scorers, Devils: Mike Hedden 1+0, Gleason Fournier 1+1, Matt Pope 1+0, Charles Linglet 0+1, Sean Bentivoglio 0+2, Bryce Reddick 0+1.

Storm: Mike Hammond 1+0, Dallas Erhardt 0+1, Luke Moffatt 0+1.

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

Shots on goal: Devils (on Ginn) 8+5+5-18; Devils (on Bowns) 11+15+15=41.

Penalties in minutes: Devils 2+0+0=2; Storm 0+0+0=0.

Special teams: Devils PK 1/1, PP 0/0; Storm PK 0/0, PP 0/1.

Stars of the game: Devils, Gleason Fournier; Storm, Matt Ginn. 

Referees: Tom Pering and Stefan Hogarth.

Attendance: 3,100.

Other results: Belfast Giants 5, Sheffield Steelers 4 (overtime); Glasgow Clan 9, Dundee Stars 2; Nottingham Panthers 2, Fife Flyers 6.

Gleason Fournier scores the game-winning goal for Cardiff Devils against Storm. Pic: Helen Brabon.

ELITE ICE HOCKEY LEAGUE 2018-19

TEAM GP W L OTL PTS PCT GF GA PIM STREAK
Cardiff Devils 33 24 5 4 52 .788 131 84 382 4-0
Belfast Giants 34 25 8 1 51 .750 130 78 468 1-0
Nottingham Panthers 38 20 11 7 47 .618 123 115 647 0-1
Fife Flyers 33 18 11 4 40 .606 116 106 450 2-0
Glasgow Clan 32 18 13 1 37 .578 112 105 382 3-0
Sheffield Steelers 34 17 16 1 35 .515 107 116 459 0-2
Guildford Flames 33 16 16 1 33 .500 105 100 432 0-3
Dundee Stars 36 12 15 9 33 .458 93 127 365 0-3
Coventry Blaze 32 13 13 6 32 .500 106 120 399 1-0
Manchester Storm 34 13 18 3 29 .426 95 124 806 0-1
Milton Keynes Lightning 35 11 22 2 24 .343 85 128 656 0-1

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