Cardiff Devils almost certainly said farewell to Andrew Lord the player in their final Elite League match of the season at Ice Arena Wales.

Lord returned to the ice having focused on coaching over the last few months and signed off in a 7-3 home win.

He signed off with Cardiff Devils’ final goal of the regular season, scoring in the last minute of what is possibly his last skating appearance for the club.

Devils paid tribute to Lord in a pre-match video, while he was given a standing ovation by the 3,000-plus sell-out crowd.

Lord will undoubtedly miss playing on a regular basis, will keep fit in case he is needed next season and could return if there is an injury crisis during 2018-19.

He remains an outstanding Elite League player, but is keen to concentrate on a coaching career which has blossomed over the last four seasons.

Devils have won seven trophies in that time under his leadership, including back-to-back League titles, and have again qualified for the Champions League.

Lord’s men have been crowned League champions this season and lifted the Erhardt Conference title, while they were runners-up to Belfast Giants in the Challenge Cup.

The Canadian forward signed autographs and posed for photographs with Devils supporters after the match.

Now their sights are set on the end-of-season PredictorBet play-offs with Devils playing Coventry Blaze in their quarter-final next weekend.

The first leg is at Coventry’s Skydome home on Good Friday, while the return is at the IAW in Cardiff Bay on Sunday, April 1 (6pm).

Devils rested goalie Ben Bowns, Bryce Reddick, Layne Ulmer and Luke Piggott, while Latvian-born Toms Rutkiss played regular shifts.

Jordan Lawday, Cardiff Fire’s Great Britain under-20 netminder, was back-up to Thomas Murdy.

Lightning were short on numbers Devils dominated, skating with pace and intensity, getting bodies to the net and making life difficult for their visitors.

Player-Coach Lord, skating in what could be his last appearance for Cardiff, linked up with Jake Morissette and Justin Faryna.

Paul Crowder scored Cardiff’s first goal after six minutes 43 seconds, staying composed in front of goal to touch home a close range shot, and Matt Pope made it 2-0 when he flicked the puck in off the bar.

Morissette hit the pipework in another dangerous Devils attack, while Justin Faryna added their third goal early in the second period (21-22), while Devils fired against a post from another attack.

British player Josh Batch added Cardiff’s fourth after 27-16.

Kevin King pulled a goal back during a 5v3 powerplay (29-18) with Devils losing that steely edge which had carried them into a four-goal lead.

Levels of intensity dipped as Lightning, who have failed to qualify for the play-offs, scored twice in quick succession.

During the last 10 minutes of the second period Lightning fired three goals with Kevin King (29-18), Evan Stoflet (37-35) and Quin Pompi (38-52) scoring.

Thankfully, Devils regained their poise and emerged comfortable winners. Gleason Fournier (45-51) scored on the powerplay, while Joey Martin scored a beauty on 50-02. There was little backlift, but Martin’s fierce shot sizzled past goalie John Pacl.

The final word went to Lord, who scored after 59-21 to leave Devils fans in seventh heaven.

Match stats

Scorers: Paul Crowder 1+0, Matt Pope 1+2, Justin Faryna 1+1, Josh Batch 1+0, Gleason Foyrnier 1+1, Joey Martin 1+0, Andrew Lord 1+1, Sean Bentivoglio 0+1, Andrew Hotham 0+3, Joey Martin 0+1, Jake Morissette 0+1, Joey Haddad 0+1, Toms Rutkis 0+1.

Period scores: (Devils) 2-0; 2-3 (4-3); 3-0 (7-3).

Lightning: Kevin King 1+1, Evan Stoflet 1+0, Quin Pompi 1+0, Denney Kearney 0+1, Carl Hudson 0+2, Tommy Mele 0+1.

Shots on goal: Devils (on Pacl) 12+13+; Lightning (on Murdy) 4+12+

Penalties in minutes: Devils 2+4+4=10; Lightning 2+2+6=10.

Powerplays: Devils 1/4, Lightning 1/4.

Stars of the game: Devils, Andrew Lord;Lightning, Kevin King.

Referees: Matt Rose and Andrew Miller

Attendance: 3,095.

Tickets for the play-off quarter-final home leg against Blaze can be purchased by CLICKING HERE or by ringing 0800 0842 666.