Cardiff Devils are setting a sizzling pace at the top of Elite League.
Captain Jake Morissette and his team have earned 32 points from the last 34 available and defeated Guildford Flames 8-3 at Ice Arena Wales on Sunday.
Devils have won 15 of their last 17 League matches, earning a point from each of two defeats which came against Belfast Giants (3-4) and Guildford Flames (2-3).
They are clear at the top, ahead of Giants and Fife Flyers, going into the last three months of the season.
Belfast earned back-to-back wins against Nottingham, while Flyers suffered a 5-2 defeat against Coventry.
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Adam Keefe, Giants’ head coach, is adamant his team will chase down the Devils, saying: “We are not here to take part – we’re here to take over.
“We want to compete for every trophy possible and win everything.”
Devils underlined their own ambitions, scoring four goals in less than six minutes during the first period against Flames on a night when referees Tom Darnell and Matt Rose issued 89 minutes in penalties.
Sean Bentivoglio was thrown out on a five minutes plus match penalty for cross-checking to the head during a hit on Liam Stewart, a call which incurs an automatic one-game ban and a review by the league.
“That five minute penalty kill was massive,” said head coach Andrew Lord. “From our bench the hit did not look nearly as bad as it did elsewhere in the arena, but there player was injured and we never like to see that.”
Flames had Brennan Yadlowski dismissed on a game misconduct for abuse of officials.
Three Devils had four-point nights and they were man of the match Joey Martin (2 goals, 2 assists), Matt Pope (2+2), and Gleason Fournier (1+3).
Netminders Ben Bowns and Thomas Murdy shared the win, collectively stopping 33 of the 36 shots faced.
“Our first six or seven minutes wasn’t nearly as good as in the cup match against Flames on Wednesday,” said head coach Andrew Lord. “We weren’t all that sharp from the off, but the players really got it going.
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“Joey Martin’s line was outstanding and Matt Pope’s goal was huge.
“The guys were ;lethal around the net and we are playing so many good minutes. Consistency is the buzz word.
“To a man the work ethic is there, a relentlessness. That scoring touch is almost always there.
“We have four lines who can all play a ton and that’s fun to see.
“The energy in the building was there and we are excited about the huge games coming up.”
The next test for Devils is against Nottingham Panthers away next Saturday, while Fife Flyers are visitors to Ice Arena Wales in Cardiff Bay the best evening.
That clash with Flyers is a crucial fixture against arguably Cardiff’s biggest rivals for the title.
Match stats v Flames:
Scorers: Matt Pope 2+1, Joey Martin 2+2, Sean Bentivoglio 1+0, Matthew Myers 1+0, Tyson Strachan 1+0, Gleason Fournier 1+2, Patrick Asselin 0+1, Andrew Hotham 0+1, Mark Louis 0+1, Jake Morissette 0+1, Joey Haddad 0+1, Paul Crowder 0+1, Layne Ulmer 0+1.
Flames: Ian Watters 1+2, Kruise Reddick 1+0, Kevin Phillips 1+0, Jesse Craige 0+1, Calle Ackered 0+1, Brett Ferguson 0+1.
Period scores (Devils first): 4-0; 2-2 (6-2); 2-1 8-3).
Shots on goal: Devils (on Carrozzi) 16+10+9=35; Flames (on Bowns/Murdy) 10+16+10=36.
Penalties in minutes: Devils 2+35+0=37; Flames 24+14+14=52.
Powerplays: Devils 3/9; Flames 1/7.
Referees: Tom Darnell and Matt Rose.
Attendance: 2,851
Stars of the game: Devils, Joey Martin; Flames, Brett Ferguson.
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| Rk | Team | GP | W | L | WPCT | Pts |
| 1 | Cardiff Devils | 33 | 25 | 6 | .788 | 52 |
| 2 | Belfast Giants | 34 | 23 | 10 | .691 | 47 |
| 3 | Fife Flyers | 30 | 22 | 8 | .733 | 44 |
| 4 | Guildford Flames | 34 | 18 | 10 | .618 | 42 |
| 5 | Sheffield Steelers | 33 | 19 | 11 | .621 | 41 |
| 6 | Manchester Storm | 34 | 18 | 11 | .603 | 41 |
| 7 | Nottingham Panthers | 32 | 18 | 11 | .609 | 39 |
| 8 | Braehead Clan | 35 | 14 | 17 | .457 | 32 |
| 9 | Coventry Blaze | 34 | 14 | 16 | .471 | 32 |
| 10 | Milton Keynes Lightning | 34 | 13 | 20 | .397 | 27 |
| 11 | Dundee Stars | 33 | 12 | 18 | .409 | 27 |
| 12 | Edinburgh | 34 | 4 | 29 | .132 | 9 |