Glasgow Clan 6, Cardiff Devils 3

Cardiff Devils suffered in Scotland, losing against Elite League leaders Glasgow Clan in a fast, exciting clash.

Clan netted on a 5v3 powerplay, fired two more PP goals and scored two empty netters in the last 65 seconds to secured a victory which lifted them three points clear of second-placed Sheffield Steelers.

This was a second successive win for Clan against Devils, who conceded six goals in each match. 

Head coach Andrew Lord believes his Cardiff team will have to be better than they have ever been to regain the EIHL title.

Lord has added defenceman Shaone Morrisonn, who played more than 500 NHL appearances, to the team and he skated with Evan Mosey and Toms Rutkis at the Viola Arena in Cardiff today as the Devils team travelled back from Scotland.

Morrisonn will be playing against Manchester Storm away on Saturday and at home to Fife Flyers the following evening.

“It was a great game,” said Lord after Devils’ 6-3 defeat in Glasgow. “Every night is tough. I liked our start we scored the first goal.

“Our first shift in the second period wasn’t good enough and we gave up an easy goal. We had to fight and claw, which we did, and fought our way back before running into penalty trouble.

“The first shift of the second and special teams let us down unfortunately. Coming into the hame we were the leading powerplay team and up there on penalty kills. Both failed us in Glasgow.

“I’m not sure our guys to a man have understood just how good this league is now. Hoping this will be final nail in coffin to ensure they all understand how good it is.

“It’s a 10-team league – anybody can beat anybody. To get anything done this season we are going to have to be better than we’ve ever been.” 

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Devils took the lead in the opening minutes (2-34) when Mike McNamee swept in a rebound after net minder Patrick Killeen had stopped Matt Pope’s initial effort.

Glasgow drew level in the final couple of minutes of the first when Nolan LaPorte forced in from close range after a scramble.

Devils were sloppy at the start of the second and Rasmus Bjerrum scored. The Dane then turned provider for Glasgow’s third when Craig Peacock barged into the face-off circle, played a neat one-two with Bjerrum before scoring.

Lord’s team responded almost immediately when Gleason Fournier teed up Blair Riley in front of goal and he made no mistake.

Pope rifled in a deadly shot with nine minutes left to make it 3-3 and set up a tense final few minutes in what had been an entertaining and thrilling encounter.

Clan scored three goals in the last five minutes with Mathieu Roy scoring on a five-on-three powerplay.

Cardiff threw themselves forward and Matt Pufahl made it 5-3 with an empty-net goal and then Travis Erhardt repeated the feat.

Devils are on the road this Saturday when they play Manchester Storm in Altrincham before returning to Viola Arena the next day for their home clash with Fife Flyers.

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Tickets for Sunday’s game are available ONLINE HERE or by calling Devils hotline on 0800 0842 666.

Former Devil Brent Walton will back in Cardiff on Sunday and will meet fans in the bar before face-off when he will talk about his time in Cardiff and life after ice hockey.

Glasgow Clan v Cardiff Devils, Match stats:

Scorers, Clan: Nolan LaPorte 1+1, Rasma Bjerrum 1+1, Craig Peacock 1+0, Mathieu Roy 1+0, Matt Pufahl 1+0, Travis Erhardt 1+1, Mikael Lidhammer 0+1, Chad Rau 0+1, Jordan Heywood 0+1, Scott Pitt 0+1, 

Devils: Mike McNamee 1+0, Blair Riley 1+0, Matt Pope 1+1, Sean McMonagle 0+1, Charles Linglet 0+1, Sean Bentivoglio 0+1, Joey Martin 0+1

Period scores (Clan first) 1-1; 2-1 (3-2); 3-1 (6-3)

Shots on goal: Clan (on Ben Bowns) 33, Devils (on Patrick Killeen) 36

Devils team: 

Goalies: Ben Bowns (back-up Thomas Murdy)

First line: Mark Richardson, Gleason Fournier, Sean Bentivoglio, Joey Martin, Joey Haddad

Second line: Mark Louis, Sean McMonagle, Masi Marjamaki, Mike McNamee, Matt Pope]

Third line: Bryce Reddick, Sam Jardine, Charles Linglet, Stephen Dixon, Blair Riley

Fourth line: Josh Batch, Matthew Myers, Sam Duggan

Face-offs won: Clan 39, Devils 23

Attendance: 2,935

Referees: Liam Sewell, Pavel Halas