Devils 4, Blaze 3 - OT Final
Off to Coventry on
Sunday were the Cardiff Devils and on par for a four point weekend! After a thrilling 2-1 home win against
the Sheffield Steelers, the Welsh side were all set to bring home those all
important points.
The
Devils came out fighting, with some good chances early on. The game was looking to be a physical
one, with penalties coming for both teams, and Coventry’s Olson playing
forward, hitting every Devil in range.
Cardiff managed to level him with an early first period goal, coming from
fan favourite Max Birbraer, who was fresh on the ice after a three game
suspension.
The
physical penalties continued and the Blaze starting applying the pressure on
the powerplay. Despite this,
goaltender Phil Osaer stayed strong and the period finished with the Devils
holding that one goal lead.
Even
with the Blaze carrying the man advantage into the second, after Mac Faulkner
was penalised at the end of the first, the Devils came out strongly. There were some big hits and breakaway
chances, before Cardiff finally sealed the deal and added an extra to their
lead, again coming from Max Birbraer.
Unfortunately,
the Blaze were not down and out; after former-Devil Sam Smith was sent to the
box, Guthrie managed a shorthanded break, and slotted the puck past Osaer. Second period finished 2-1.
The
third was full of penalties and full of goals. With penalties coming from both sides, it wasn’t surprising
that the goals would follow. The
first side to capitalise was the visitors, giving Cardiff a 3-1 advantage. Coventry then followed this up with one
of their own.
With
the score holding at 3-2, it seemed that Cardiff were going to clinch the
points in regulation. However, in
a shock turn of events, Mike Bayrack evened the score with just over a minute
remaining in the period.
With
the Blaze forcing overtime, everyone in the Skydome was on the edge of their
seat. Cardiff seemed to dominate,
pushing Hirsch to make several fantastic saves, before finally adding that all-important
game winning goal, curtesty of Tyson Marsh.
Riding
the high, the Devils will be in Belfast next Saturday (puck drop: 7pm) and the
Red Army will be crashing into the O!
If you’re not travelling over, be sure to follow along with Match Night
Live! Let’s Go Devils!
