Guildford Flames 3, Cardiff Devils 4
After sudden death overtime
Andrew Lord’s Cardiff Devils became embroiled in penalty troubles at Guildford Flames – and then clawed their way back to victory.
Devils hit back from 3-1 down to earn a dramatic overtime victory and Lord said: “We shot ourselves in the foot during that first period.
“It was great to score our first goal on the first shift, but then we took penalty after penalty. We need to keep our composure and discipline a little better.
“We have to watch for stick infractions.
“Our kill was awesome in the first, not very good during the second and much better in the third.
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“Credit to Flames, who were down three important bodies and gave it their all. In the end we found a way to win and that’s a good sign early in the second.”
Devils picked up 16 minutes in penalties during the first two periods of this Challenge Cup group match, but were able to fight back from being two goals adrift.
“It is gut wrenching to lose, but I am hugely proud of the team,” said Flames coach Paul Dixon. “We could not have asked for any more over 60-plus minutes.
“We led 3-1, but you know Cardiff are a quality team with quality players. We knew they would come back and they did.”
Devils’ overtime winner was scored by man of the match Gleason Fournier, who netted after 61 minutes 36 seconds.
Victory means Devils stay top of their Challenge Cup group after two games, both against Flames.
They now complete a run of three games in four days by playing a League fixtures at home to Glasgow Clan on Saturday and then travel to Coventry Blaze in the cup on Sunday.
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Devils scored during the opening shift when Mattias Sointu found Stephen Dixon, who backhanded the puck top shelf past Travis Fullerton after 26 seconds.
Then the parade to the penalty box started with Devils being called for four successive penalties giving Flames back-to-back 5-on-3 man advantages.
Devils’ penalty-killing unit was in form and they kept Flames at bay to finish the period with their 1-0 lead intact.
Two more Devils penalties to open the second period led to Flames making the score 1-1 with a powerplay goal from John Dunbar at 22-46.
The home side went ahead with their second powerplay goal at 25-29, scored by Calle Ackered, and they made it 3-1 at 30-28 when Corbin Baldwin scored unassisted to give Guildford a comfortable lead midway through the game.
Devils hit back when Charles Linglet picked up the puck after his initial shot was blocked to score unassisted on the powerplay at 32-34.
They went into the final 20 minutes trailing 3-2 and Devils pressed hard, but Fullerton was there to make the saves.
He was beaten at 48-25 by defenceman Sam Jardine, who scored his first as a Devil to tie the game with Blair Riley and Linglet drawing assists.
Almost immediately after Jardine’s goal, Flames thought they had taken the lead back, but after a lengthy review, the effort was disallowed and the play continued.
A late powerplay chance for Flames was snubbed out by the Devils and the teams were locked on 3-3 after regulation time.
Devils took control in overtime and eventually Mike McNamee dropped the puck to Fournier, who danced across the blueline barely keeping the bouncing puck onside before firing a wrist shot past Fullerton to win the game for the Devils at 61-36.
Match stats:
Scorers, Flames:John Dunbar 1+0, Calle Ackered 1+0, Corbin Baldwin 1+0, Owen Griffiths 0+1, Ian Watters 0+1, Erik Lindhagen 0+1.
Devils: Gleason Fournier 1+2, Sam Jardine 1+0, Charles Linglet 1+1, Stephen Dixon 1+0, Matias Sointu 0+1, Mike McNamee 0+2, Blair Riley 0+1.
Period scores (Flames first): 0-1; 3-1 (3-2); 0-1 (3-3); 0-1 (3-4).
Penalties in minutes: Flames 4+4+0=8; Devils 10+6+2=18
Shots on goal: Flames (on Bowns) 35, Devils (on Fullerton 44)
Attendance 1680
Referee: Matt Thompson and Stefan Hogarth.
Guildford Flames
Starting goalie: Travis Fullerton
First line: Jordan Rowley, Erik Lindhagen, Ian Watters, Kruise Reddick, John Dunbar
Second line: Calle Ackered, Steven Lee, Jamie Crooks, Brett Ferguson, Owen Griffiths
Third line: Corbin Baldwin, Jordan Abt, Cam Braes, TJ Foster, Joshua Walker
Cardiff Devils
Starting goalie: Ben Bowns
First line: Gleason Fournier, Mark Richardson, Sean Bentivoglio, Stephen Dixon, Matias Sointu
Second line: Mark Louis, Sean McMonagle, Masi Marjamaki, Joey Haddad, Matt Pope
Third line: Sam Jardine, Bryce Reddick, Charles Linglet, Mike McNamee, Blair Riley
Fourth line: Josh Batch, Matthew Myers, Sam Duggan
Cardiff Devils results plus fixtures over the next month:
August
Friday 30 Cardiff Devils 3, Mountfield HK 2 (Champions Hockey League)
September
Sunday 1 Cardiff Devils 4, Graz 99ers 3 (Champions Hockey League)
Thursday 5 Mountfield HK 5, Cardiff Devils 2 (Champions Hockey League)
Saturday 7 Graz 99ers 2, Cardiff Devils 5 (Champions Hockey League)
Saturday 14 Cardiff Devils 5, Guildford Flames 3
Sunday 15 Cardiff Devils 5, Glasgow Clan 3
Thursday 19 Guildford Flames 3, Cardiff Devils 4
Saturday 21 Devils v Glasgow Clan (EIHL, Viola Arena, 7pm)
Sunday 22 Coventry Blaze v Devils (Challenge Cup, 5.30pm)
Sunday 29 Sheffield Steelers v Devils (EIHL, 4pm)
Saturday 5 Devils v Manchester Storm (EIHL, Viola Arena, 7pm)
Sunday 6 Coventry Blaze v Devils (Challenge Cup, 5.30pm)
October
Tuesday 8 Frolunda Indians v Devils (Champions Hockey League fixture, 5pm)
Thursday 10 Devils v Dundee Stars (EIHL, 7.30pm)
Sunday 13 Coventry Blaze v Devils (EIHL, 5.30pm)
Tuesday 15 Devils v Frolunda Indians (Champions Hockey League fixture, Viola Arena, 7.30pm)
Saturday 19 Devils v Nottingham Panthers (EIHL, Viola Arena, 7pm)
Sunday 20 Nottingham Panthers v Devils (EIHL, 4pm)
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