Cardiff Devils are desperately close to being genuine contenders to qualify for the Champions Hockey League last 32.

They won’t make it through the groups this season, but the reigning Elite League champions are close to taking that next step.

Devils lost 3-1 against Vaxjo Lakers in Sweden on Tuesday, but are incredibly close to making a major impact in Europe.

Swedish champions Lakers had to win if they were to keep their hopes of going into the knockout stages alive, but they were made to work every step of the way in front of more than 4,000 spectators.

.@cardiffdevils take the lead in @vaxjolakers with a breakaway! #ChampionsGoBeyond pic.twitter.com/hFrhwkgWvU

— Champions Hockey League (@championshockey) October 9, 2018

With less than a minute left Lakers were clinging on to a 2-1 lead earned by a breakaway, shorthanded goal in the first period.

Goalie Ben Bowns stopped 32 of the 25 Lakers’ shots on target and Devils, once again, were left frustrated by a defeat they scarcely deserved.

They have earned one point from five group fixtures – an overtime loss against SC Bern – and have run all three of their group rivals close.

Devils won against Lakers at Ice Arena Wales in the CHL last season and were only edged out 3-2 at the Vida Arena in Sweden.

Cardiff struck first when Mike Hedden broke and left Vaxjo D-men gasping with a fluent break sent him through. Hedden faked out goalie netminder Viktor Andrén and slipped his shot through the five hole to score.

The insurance marker that helped to keep @vaxjolakers alive – they'll rely on @scbern_news tomorrow #ChampionsGoBeyond pic.twitter.com/ND5ZcXSBb5

— Champions Hockey League (@championshockey) October 9, 2018

That came after eight minutes 33 seconds and it took a brilliant solo goal to level the goals when Pontus Netterberg skated in from the left and went across the front of Bowns’ net before finding the net (10-00).

Lakers fired a shorthanded goal when Brendan Shinnimin powered forward when Devils lost possession and fired into the corner. Goalie Bowns almost saved it, but the puck flew off his glove and just inside a post.

That completed the first period scoring and the middle 20 minutes were goalless.

Devils battled on and had their chance when Netterberg was penalised 2+2 for boarding.

Those four minutes were crucial and the home team hung on to their advantage with Matt Pope and Joey Haddad going closest to levelling the scores.

Erik Josefsson produced outstanding work on D for Lakers when he denied Haddad a tap-in at the back post.

When the game went into the last minute Devils were still looking for the goal that would face overtime and put Lakers out of the competition.

But Vegas Golden Knights prospect Jonas Røndberg fired a quick one time shot to give the Lakers an insurance maker with less than a minute to go (59-09).

Now Vaxjo need help from SC Bern, who have already qualified for the next stage. If Red Bull Salzburg earn even a single point in the clash with Bern on Wednesday but will be enough to stop Lakers going any further.

The final CHL group fixture for Devils is against Vaxjo Lakers at Ice Arena Wales in Cardiff Bay next Tuesday (7.30pm).

https://twitter.com/championshockey/status/1049706708233203712

Match stats:

Scorers:

Lakers: Pontus Netterberg 1+0; Brendan Shinnimin 1+0, Jonas Røndbjerg 1+0, Austin Ortega 0+1, Joel Persson 0+2, Roman Horák 0+1, Pontus Holmberg 0+1.

Devils: Mike Hedden 1+0.. Joey Haddad 0+1, Stephen Dixon 0+1.

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

Shots in total: Lakers 65, Devils 27.

Shots on goal: Lakers 35, Devils 18.

Shots blocked: Lakers 15, Devils 4.

Penalties in minutes: Lakers 2+2+6=10, Devils 2+2+8=12.

Powerplays: Lakers 6, Devils 4.

Face-offs won (Lakers first): 36-28

Lines

Lakers
Netminders: Viktor Fasth, Viktor Andrén.

First line: Linus Högberg (D), Joel Persson (D), Brendan Shinnimin (F), Roman Horák (F), Dominik Bokk (F)

Second line: Daniel Rahimi (D), Oliver Bohm (D), Julius Junttila (F), Linus Fröberg (F), Austin Ortega (F).
Third line: Arvid Lundberg (D), Niclas Burström (D), Jonas Røndbjerg (F), Pontus Holmberg (F), Pontus Netterberg (F)
Fourth line: Peter Andersson (D), Karl Johansson (D), Nils Carnbäck (F), Erik Josefsson (F), Martin Lundberg (F).

Devils

Netminders: Ben Bowns, Thomas Murdy.

First line: Mark Louis (D), Gleason Fournier (D), Sean Bentivoglio (F), Joey Martin (F), Matthew Pope (F).
Second line: Josh Batch (D), Mark Richardson (D), Michael Hedden (F), Stephen Dixon (F), Joey Haddad (F).
Third line: Ben Blood (D), Bryce Reddick (D), Charles Linglet (F), Layne Ulmer (F), Jake Morissette (F).
Fourth line: Rotation on defence; Toms Rutkis (F), Matthew Myers (F), Craig Moore (F).

Referees: Trpimir Piragić, Morgan Johansson.

Attendance: 4,108.

Devils remaining fixtures in October

Tuesday 9 v Vaxjo Lakers in Sweden (6.30pm, Champions League)

Saturday 13 v Dundee Stars (Ice Arena Wales, 7pm)

Sunday 14 v MK Lightning (away, 5pm)

Tuesday 16 v Vaxjo Lakers (Ice Arena Wales, 7.30pm)

Saturday 20 v Sheffield Steelers (Ice Arena Wales, 7pm)

Sunday 21 v Fife Flyers (Ice Arena Wales, 4pm)

MATCH TICKETS

Tickets for the 2018/19 season games are on sale.

CLICK HERE TO BOOK ONLINE or CALL 0800 0842 666 to book

CLICK HERE to be redirected to the full fixtures list.

Cardiff Fire are the second senior team in Cardiff, playing National League ice hockey.

Fire NIHL fixtures during October 

Saturday 13 Invicta (Kent) v Cardiff Fire (5.15pm)

Sunday 14 Cardiff Fire v Bracknell Hornets (Ice Arena Wales, 6pm)

Saturday 20 Bristol Pitbulls v Cardiff Fire (5pm)

Saturday 27 Slough Jets v Cardiff Fire (5.45pm)

Sunday 28 Cardiff Fire v Lee Valley Lions (Ice Arena Wales, 6pm)