Cardiff Devils 2, Guildford Flames 3

after sudden death overtime

Cardiff Devils are on the brink of a Challenge Cup exit.

They suffered a damaging defeat against Guildford Flames at Ice Arena Wales, losing to a goal scored 27 seconds into overtime.

Coventry Blaze now hold the key to Devils’ survival in the competition. The teams clash at the Skydome in Coventry this evening and the return is in Cardiff Bay later this month.

Cup holders Devils must win both if they are to keep alive slim hopes of making progress from their group alive.

“Our consistency is all over the shop, our battle level wasn’t good enough,” said head coach Andrew Lord after Cardiff’s defeat in front of a 3,000-plus sell-out attendance..

“I’m frustrated, the players are frustrated. Our consistency has to improve.

“It’s there, it really is, but to a man we have to be better. Awareness is another big factor and we have to bounce back.

“We’ll analyse the big picture on Monday and we have to focus on our match at Coventry now.”

There were no goals in the first period, but Devils were shorthanded twice with Joey Martin being called for cross-checking at four minutes 44 seconds and then for charging late at 17-43.

Devils opened the scoring in the second period on the powerplay when man of the match Andrew Hotham pulled a loose puck out of a scramble in front of the Guildford goal and fired past Chris Carrozzi (21-43).

Ian Watters tied the game for the Flames at 25-51 when he deflected the puck past goalie Ben Bowns. The goal was awarded even though Watters’ stick was high.

Devils appeals, the goal was reviewed and match officials allowed it to stand.

Flames took the lead early in the third period when Calle Ackered fired a cannon top shelf past Bowns to make it 2-1 to the visitors at 43-33.

It took the Devils until 55-02 to tie the game when Joey Martin found Matt Pope alone in front of the net to make it 2-2 and force overtime.

But it took Flames only 27 seconds to grab the winner when Jesse Craige netted from a rebound after a Brett Ferguson shot.

Match stats:

Scorers, Devils: Patrick Asselin 1+1, Matt Pope 1+0, Joey Martin 0+1, Mark Richardson 0+1, Matthew Myers 0+1.

Flames: Calle Ackered 1+1, Jesse Craig 1+0, Kruise Reddick 0+2, John Dunbar 0+1, Andy McKinney 0+1, Brett Ferguson 0+1.

Period scores (Devils first): 0-0; 1-1 (1-1); 1-1 (2-2); 0-1 (2-3).

Shots on goal: Devils (on Carrozzi) 6+10+9+0=25; Flames (on Bowns) 9+9+12+1=31.

Penalties in minutes: Devils 9+9+2=20; Flames 5+21+0=26.

Powerplays: Devils 1/3; Flames 0/5.

Referee: Jan Schmejkal.

Attendance: 3,093.

Stars of the game: Devils, Andrew Hotham; Flames, Calle Ackered.