Cardiff Devils vs Nottingham Panthers (CC) 19/01/11

Challenge Cup - Devils 3, Panthers 3 - Final

  Devils are looking up with this tie, which puts us through to the last four, after their first loss in twenty-two games on Sunday night.  The whole of the Red Army were praying prior to the game, hoping that the Devils kept their heads up and didn't let Sunday's let down get to them.  And that's just what they did.

  In the first period, it looked as if Sunday never happened.  Cardiff came out and went straight on the offensive; within two minutes, Jon Pelle had given us the lead, with his thirty-eighth of the season!  He had a little help from Max Birbraer and Scott Matzka, but managed to slot the puck behind Kowalski (who ends up saving 38-41 shots).  Six minutes later, Craig Weller, living up to his Ex-NHL status, adds another, doubling our lead.  Things are looking up for the Devils, Sunday just a long forgotten memory.

  However, Devils fans don't get excited just yet.  At 15.47 in the 1st period, Galbraith opened up the scoring for the Panthers, by shooting the puck past Stevie Lyle.  At the end of the first period, the score remained at 2-1.

  Now I can guess what you are thinking; 2-1 up at the end of the first, we're flying.  Only, we're not.  Everything went downhill in the second period.  We ended up going from 2-1 up to losing 3-2 at the end of the second.  This was due to a powerplay goal, coming from the Panthers' Neilson at 10.40.  Not happy with the current tie, Nottingham pushed it one further, and took the lead.  Their third goal of the game came from Hereema, at 13.53, and was a shorthanded goal.

  At the start of the 3rd, things weren't looking too hot for Cardiff.  They were losing 3-2, after leading 2-1 at the end of the first.  Every shot they had failed to make it past Kowalski, but that didn't stop them from trying.  They tried and tried and tried; Kowalski faced 41 shots from the Devils.  It was only in the last thirty seconds that we managed to get one through.  Craig Weller, hero that he is, managed to send the puck flying past Kowalski at 19.30, forcing a tie and gaining us second place in Group B, and a place in the final four.

  Semi-finals have been announced: Cardiff have got Belfast, on the 5th February, Away (which will double as a league match), and on the 16th February, Home.  I'd hurry if you want tickets, they'll sell out quickly!