Cardiff Devils ruthlessly exposed Coventry Blaze and qualified for the Challenge Cup quarter-finals with a 7-2 home win at Ice Arena Wales.
The teams were locked at 2-2 during the second period when Canadian Brett Robinson floored Cardiff’s Mark Louis with a high challenge.
Referee Mike Hicks threw Robinson out of the game for a check to the head – and Blaze went down in flames.
Devils scored three goals in 93 seconds on the powerplay during Robinson’s penalty and left their visitors down and out.
Andrew Hotham (32-22), Gleason Fournier (33.00) and Jake Morissette (33.55) scored powerplay goals for Devils and at that stage the home team had netted four times in two PP chances.
Joey Martin then scored his second of the match to complete a 5-1 second period triumph and hand the home team a 6-2 lead.
Blaze goalie Kevin Nastiuk was taken off after Devils’ fifth goal of the night and was clearly furious, slamming his stick into the ground when he reached the Blaze bench. Brython Preece took over and he conceded Martin’s second goal of the night.
It was a big-hitting performance by Devils with Josh Batch, Louis, Andrew Lord and Gleason Fournier leaving Blaze players feeling the pain.
Head coach Andrew Lord and his team don’t know yet who they play in the quarter-finals with a last eight draw likely to be made this week.
Devils have reached the final for the last three seasons, winning the trophy twice, and beating Coventry was crucial.
Devils were again without Patrick Asselin, Joey Haddad, Justin Faryna and Mark Richardson, while Blaze were one man down with Danick Paquette sitting out on a suspension.
This was only the second time these teams have played each other this season and Devils have won both, emerging 3-2 victors at Coventry’s Skydome and then powering to a big home success.
Cardiff took the opportunity to give back-up goalie Thomas Murdy the last 17 minutes between the pipes with Ben Bowns returning to the bench.
Devils had Josh Batch thrown out for roughing in the third period after he clashed with Coventry’s Mark Noble and came out on top.
The next match for Cardiff is an Elite League clash against Fife Flyers in Scotland on Sunday, while next Saturday (November 4) they are at home to Sheffield Steelers in Cardiff Bay (7pm).
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Match stats:
Scorers, Devils: Joey Martin 2+1, Paul Crowder 1+0, Andrew Hotham 1+0, Gleason Fournier 1+0, Jake Morissette 1+1, Layne Ulmer 1+0, Josh Batch 0+1, Josh Batch 0+1, Sean Bentivoglio 0+1, Layne Ulmer 0+1, Matt Pope 0+2, Bryce Reddick 0+1, Andrew Hotham 0+1.
Blaze: Jordan Pietrus 1+0, David Clements 1+0, Brett Robinson 0+1, Ben Lake 0+1, Ross Venus 0+1.
Period scores (Devils first): 1-1; 5-1 (6-2); 1-0 (7-2).
Penalties in minutes: Devils 4+4+25=33; Blaze 2+27+2=31.
Powerplays: Devils 4/2; Blaze 0/3.
Referee: Mike Hicks.