Cardiff Devils 1, Manchester Storm 6
Cardiff Devils fans endured a weekend of abject ice hockey misery.
Their team performance against Manchester Storm was embarrassing for supporters and players alike.
Many spectators were walking out of Ice Arena Wales well before the end with Devils trailing by five goals.
Devils followed their 5-2 Challenge Cup defeat at MK Lightning by leaking six goals against Manchester Storm, who stand top of Elite League.
Player-coach Andrew Lord shuffled line combinations, sent on back-up goalie Thomas Murdy for Ben Bowns and did everything possible to fire up his team during period break team talks.
His team, though, were flat and lacked intensity. Where was the passion and hunger which has become a trademark of Devils performances?
This match was a low point for Lord’s men, but it’s worth recalling that last December they were thrashed 8-1 at home by Nottingham Panthers and went on to win the Elite League title.
Matt Pope was missing for a second match because of injury, while Lord returned to the ice after being on the bench at Milton Keynes.
Lord will demand a major reaction from his Devils players when they take on Dundee Stars in Scotland on Wednesday.
Storm’s first three goals all came on the powerplay.
Matt Stanisz finished off a pass from Matt Beca at six minutes 45 seconds, Beca and Stanisz set up Chris Auger at 13-45 to double the lead and then Auger made it 3-0 (23-19).
Dallas Ehrhardt made it 4-0 after 26-24, blasting a shot from the blueline over the shoulder of Bowns. That ended Bowns’ one-ice involvement with Murdy taking over between the pipes.
Less than three minutes into the final period Storm netted their fifth goal with Luke Moffat the marksman (42-35).
Devils finally put themselves on the scoreboard at 54-22 when Joey Haddad tipped in a shot from Andrew Hotham, but there was more misery for home fans when Storm added an empty net goal.
Auger completed his hat-trick after 57-01
Match stats:
Scorers, Devils: Joey Haddad 1+0, Andrew Hotham 0+1, Drew Paris 0+1.
Storm: Matt Stanisz 1+2, Chris Auger 3+0, Dallas Erhardt 1+0, Luke Moffatt 1+0, Matt Beca 0+3, Lindan Springer 0+1, Shane Bakker 0+1, Dane Byers 0+1.
Period scores (Devils first): 0-2; 0-2 (0-4); 1-2 (1-6).
Shots on goal: Devils (on Clemente)
11+11+16=38; Storm(on Bowns/Murphy) 6+13+6=25.
Penalties in minutes: Devils 11+4+0=15; Storm 7+2+4=13.
Referee: Tom Darnell.
Stars of the game: Devils, Craig Moore; Storm, Mike Clemente.
Results over weekend:
Sunday: Edinburgh Capitals 1, Braehead Clan 3; Guildford Flames 2, Nottingham Panthers 3 (shootout); Cardiff Devils 1, Manchester Storm 6; Sheffield Steelers 0m Belfast Giants 2.
Saturday: Fife Flyers 2, Coventry Blaze 0; Manchester Storm 6, Guildford Flames 5 (overtime); Belfast Giants 3, Sheffield Steelers 1; Nottingham Panthers 3, Braehead Clan 5; MK Lightning 5, Cardiff Devils 2.