Hello folks!
This week saw the opening matches of the Challenge Cup
quarter-finals, with our own Cardiff Devils, as well as the Fife Flyers and
Sheffield Steelers, taking the lead in their two-leg series.
Cardiff and Belfast kicked off the festivities on Tuesday,
as the Welsh side ventured to the Northern Irish capital to take on the
reigning Elite League Champions at the Odyssey Arena.
Despite missing Matthew Myers and Captain Tyson Marsh, the
Devils managed to fight their way through three periods, and the refereeing of
Mike Hicks, to come out with a 4-3 win.
After a scoreless first period, Cardiff scored first,
through Joey Haddad on the powerplay, to take the lead. Belfast equalised just over a minute
later, through Man of the Match Colin Shields, but even grit and determination
was not enough to stop the visiting side from scoring two more second period
goals (Lord @ 36:56 and Morrisette @ 39:04), taking a 3-1 lead into the final
period.
Cardiff continued their plight early in the third, with a second
goal from Jake Morrisette to increase the Devils’ lead to three goals.
However, we all know that Belfast are not a team to lay down
when the going gets tough, and the home side fought back gallantly (not a word
I would use to describe Darryl Lloyd but eh). They managed to score two goals in two minutes to bring the
deficit back within one, the first of the two coming off a beautiful stretch
pass from Calvin Elfring that bypassed every Devils’ player on the ice!
Of course, there had to be some drama with Hicks at the
whistle – there is always is, right?
Tuesday night saw Cardiff on the penalty kill for most the final ten
minutes, giving the Giants an incredible opportunity to push the game into
overtime. As a result, Doug
Clarkson will miss tonight’s game against the Coventry Blaze, after being
assessed a five-minute major for Spearing and a Game misconduct. The DOPS’s decision and explanation on
this ban can be found here: http://www.eliteleague.co.uk/ban-for-clarkson-p195694
Meanwhile, while I was having a panic attack as Belfast shot
chance after chance into the glove, stick or body of wonder man Ben Bowns, our
boys fought hard to keep their lead.
I can safely say I have never been so happy to hear the final
buzzer!
Although I was slightly disappointed we didn’t get to the
see the Bownsy Wave…
Wednesday night saw a 6-4 win for the Fife Flyers over the
Nottingham Panthers at the National Ice Centre, with the Scottish side icing
five different scorers!
And, to round off the Challenge Cup games for this week,
Gerad Adams and his Sheffield Steelers crossed the Scottish border to face off
against the Dundee Stars, bringing home a 3-0 win to give them the advantage
going into their second leg.
This coming week will see the second leg for both Sheffield
vs Dundee and Cardiff vs Belfast, as well as the first leg for Coventry vs
Braehead – all games taking place on Wednesday at 7:30pm.
But, tonight, we Devils’ fans will watch our boys face off
against the Coventry Blaze tonight at the BBT (FO 7:30pm) before they travel up
to the NIC tomorrow for an early 4pm FO against the Nottingham Panthers. Good luck in both fellas, and safe trip
to all of the Red Army making the long trip North tomorrow!
Happy hockey folks!
