Cardiff Devils 6, Milton Keynes Lightning 5
Cardiff Devils are playing a dangerous game in their quest for a third successive Elite League title.
They were sloppy during the first period to the point of carelessness, showing a mental weakness which allowed the visitors to take control at the Viola Arena in Cardiff Bay.
Devils were trailing 4-1 after 22 minutes and at that stage bottom of the table Lightning must have been delighted that Devils were struggling to find any fluency on defence.
Home players worked hard, but failed to find the urgency to take command.
The character Devils players showed in a fast and furious comeback was good to see, but why didn’t they start with that same focus and mental strength.
Joey Martin led the way with a hat-trick which took his goals tally for the season to 26 and led Devils to a valuable victory.
“What a crazy night,” said Devils head coach Andrew Lord. “That time of year I guess. We’ll take a win at this time of the year and it was an unbelievable comeback during which we showed tons of character.
“It was, though, a strange match. We started well and had a great four or five minutes on the cycle, generating chances and playing up tempo.
“But when you look at the three goals we gave up during the first period. We let up three big plays and failed to defend smartly. Their speed gave us trouble on the goals.
“We earned the win needed and move onto another big fixture on Sunday.”
Devils travel to play Lightning at their Planet Ice Arena this evening when their top line, featuring Americans Robbie Baillargeon and Tim Wallace alongside Latvian Georgs Golovkovs will again be key for MK.
“They have tons of speed, creativity and skill,” said Lord. “That top line could be a top line anywhere in the league and Lightning also have a top flight goalie (Patrick Killeen).
“He is unbelievable and is gaining a lot of notoriety this season, making 40 or 50 saves on a highly basis. He is a catalyst for that team and gives them a chance in every fixture.
“When you are three goals down and they have a guy like that who can shut the door it can be scary and challenging.
“I liked our commitment as the game went on. We were hungry. Once we got things going in the second we were in pretty good shape.
“We need a better 60 on Sunday and not give up those big plays.”
Lightning’s team included Cardiff-born 22-year-old Owen Griffiths, a talented forward who is a product of the Devils junior programme.
“Owen played well and had some poise,” said MK player-coach Wallace. “He’s a Welsh kid, I believe he had family at the game and we played well.
“He is improving every game and I was impressed by his poise with the puck, particularly in our end.”
Devils set off to an ideal against Lightning start with Stephen Dixon scoring at two minutes 29 seconds, reacting smartly off a rebound after Patrick Killeen saved a point-blank shot by Sam Duggan.
Lightning took over, scoring four unanswered goals to lead 4-1. The first two were both scored by Baillargeon, his first at 4-35 and his second on 11-29.
Former Pittsburgh and Carolina NHL player Wallace made it 3-1, beating goalie Ben Bowns at 17-29 to end the period with a two-goal advantage.
Lightning struck again when David Norris fired a cannon over the shoulder of Bowns to make it 4-1 one minute 59 seconds into the middle period and silenced the 3,000-plus sold out crowd at Viola Arena.
Then the comeback was on. At 24-54 Joey Martin scored his first and 81 seconds later Sean Bentivoglio made it 3-4 after a neat set up by Gleason Fournier.
At 31-26 Joey Haddad found Mark Richardson in front of the Lightning goal and he beat Killeen to tie the game at 4-4.
Before the period was out, the visitors regained their lead with a powerplay goal scored by Andreas Valdix (37-29).
It took the Devils 25 seconds into the final period to tie the game, courtesy of Martin with his second.
After Lightning player Martin Mazanec was thrown out for head-butting, it was Martin scored the game winner with his hat-trick goal on the powerplay at 53-44.
Match stats:
Scorers, Devils: Stephen Dixon 1+0, Mark Richardson 1+0, Joey Martin 3+0, Sean Bentivoglio 1+1, Sam Duggan 0+1, Charles Linglet 0+1, Jory Haddad 0+1, Jake Morissette 0+1, Mike Hedden 0+2, Gleason Fournier 0+1.
Lightning: Robbie Baillargeon 2+2, Tim Wallace 1+2, David Norris 1+0, Andreas Valdix 1+0, Georgs Golovkovs 0+2, Andreas Validx 0+1, Cole Shudra 0+1, Owen Griffiths 0+1, Michael Fine 0+1.
Period scores (Devils first): 1-3; 3-2 (4-5); 2-0 (6-5).
Shots on goal: Devils (on Killeen) 12+13+12=37; Lightning (on Bowns) 7+10+3=20.
Penalties in minutes: Devils 0+2+2+4; Lightning 2+6+27=35.
Special teams: Devils PK 0/1, PP 1/3; Lightning PK 3/4, 1/1.
Referees: Adam Hands, Dean Smith.
Men of the match: Devils, Joey Martin; Lightning, Robbie Baillargeon.
Attendance: 3,100.
There is ice hockey action at the Viola Arena this evening (Sunday) when Cardiff Fire entertain Bristol Pitbulls (6pm).
Belfast Giants 4, Glasgow Clan 1
Belfast completed their second victory over Glasgow in three days with a three-goal win at the SSE Arena.
A perfect start for the Giants saw them take the lead 44 seconds in through Darcy Murphy, with Colin Shields making it 2-0 (12-43). A little under seven minutes into the middle period Blair Riley gave Giants a three-goal lead, although Jack Musil pulled one back for the Clan 52 seconds later.
David Rutherford’s goal with 3-16 to go rounded off the win for the Giants, who will try to make it three from three when they head to Glasgow on Sunday.
Nottingham Panthers 2, Sheffield Steelers 5
The teams were level after 20 minutes at the Motorpoint Arena. Evan McGrath gave Steelers the lead at 5-21 before Mark Hurtubise tied the game three minutes later.
Jordan Owns put the visitors back ahead 27-29 on a powerplay and then scored the third 53 seconds later to put Steelers two up.
With five minutes 27 seconds left in the final period, Tom Zanoski secured the points for Sheffield with his goal.
Chris Stewart pulled Panthers back to within two with 57-36 on the clock before Ryan Martinelli’s empty net goal with 68 seconds remaining capped a 5-2 win for Steelers.
Manchester Storm 1, Guildford Flames 6
Guildford earned a thumping win at the Storm Shelter, two days after qualifying for the Challenge Cup final.
Ian Watters and Jordan Abt scored seven minutes apart in the opening period to put the Flames two up in just under 13 and a half minutes in Manchester.
Kevin King and Watters then both struck early in the second the Flames and Abt added a fifth (25-13).
Ciaran Long scored for Storm at 42-57 before Brett Ferguson completed the scoring with eight minutes to go.
Fife Flyers 4, Coventry Blaze 7
A vital road win for Coventry Blaze in Scotland moved them to within a point of the play-off places with two games in hand.
ELITE ICE HOCKEY LEAGUE 2018-19
| TEAM | GP | W | L | OTL | PTS | PCT | GF | GA | PIM | STREAK |
| Cardiff Devils | 45 | 33 | 7 | 5 | 71 | .789 | 182 | 118 | 515 | 1-0 |
| Belfast Giants | 46 | 34 | 10 | 2 | 70 | .761 | 185 | 114 | 584 | 1-0 |
| Glasgow Clan | 46 | 27 | 15 | 4 | 58 | .630 | 165 | 140 | 558 | 0-1 |
| Nottingham Panthers | 50 | 24 | 17 | 9 | 57 | .570 | 152 | 157 | 796 | 0-1 |
| Guildford Flames | 48 | 23 | 20 | 5 | 51 | .531 | 156 | 152 | 578 | 2-0 |
| Sheffield Steelers | 48 | 24 | 22 | 2 | 50 | .521 | 146 | 163 | 651 | 3-0 |
| Fife Flyers | 44 | 22 | 17 | 5 | 49 | .557 | 146 | 150 | 637 | 0-1 |
| Dundee Stars | 46 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 46 | .500 | 129 | 159 | 441 | 0-5 |
| Manchester Storm | 47 | 20 | 22 | 5 | 45 | .479 | 139 | 165 | 993 | 0-4 |
| Coventry Blaze | 44 | 19 | 18 | 7 | 45 | .511 | 162 | 178 | 557 | 1-0 |
| Milton Keynes Lightning | 46 | 12 | 30 | 4 | 28 | .304 | 111 | 177 | 813 | 0-1 |