Reigning champions Cardiff Devils are top of Elite League after producing one of their best team performances this season.
A sell-out 3,000-plus attendance at the Viola Arena watched Devils blitz Coventry Blaze during the opening period and the home team opened a 5-1 lead.
It was an all-action first period full of big hits, physical challenges and a fight in which Cardiff’s Evan Mosey caught Blaze forward Alex Nikiforuk with big uppercut.
Matthew Myers netted early in the second period, but that effort was ruled out after the referees studied video replays. That decision could have gone either way, but the officials decided there was a slight kicking motion before the puck went in off Myers’ skate.
There were two more goals, one for either team, in the third period and Devils skated away with a comfortable home win.
They jump above Belfast Giants into top spot, although the team from Northern Ireland could regain first place when they play Milton Keynes Lightning at home on Friday.
A quick start by Cardiff saw them lead 2-0 inside four minutes as man of the match Drew Scheistel scored both a powerplay and shorthanded marker to put the Devils in control.
Ben Lake pulled it back to 2-1 at 7-09 with a brilliant solo effort, but with 2-42 left in the period Layne Ulmer had the home side back two ahead.
Blaze then collapsed before the period was out. Charles Linglet scored 19 seconds later and Mike Hedden made it 5-1 at 18-13.
With 3-52 left Alex Forbes brought the game back to 5-2, but the four-goal win was completed with Joey Haddad’s goal at 58-33.
Match stats:
Scorers, Devils: Drew Scheistel 2+0, Layne Ulmer 1+0, Charles Linglet 1+1, Joey Haddad 1+0, Mike Hedden 1+1, Stephen Dixon 0+2, Gleason Fournier 0+2, Joey Martin 0+2, Sean Bentivoglio 0+1, Mark Richardson 0+1,
Blake: Ben Lake 1+1, Alex Forbes 1+0, Tim Crowder 0+2, Ross Venus 0+1.
Period scores (Devils first): 5-1; 0-0 (5-1); 1-1 (6-2).
Shots on goal: Devils (on Koprive/Hedley) 5+7+8=20; Blaze (on Bowns) 15+10+7=32.
Penalties in minutes: Devils 7+4+2=13; Blaze 9+0+0=9.
Special teams: Devils PK 4/4, PP 2/2; Blaze PK 0/2, PP 0/4.
Referees: Stefan Hogarth and Dean Smith.
Attendance: 3,100.
Men of the match: Devils, Drew Scheistel; Blaze, Ben Lake.
Devils fixtures:
2018
December
Sunday 30 v Guildford Flames (away, 6pm)
2019
Tuesday 1 v Guildford Flames (home, 4pm)
Saturday 5 v Manchester Storm (home, 7pm)
Sunday 6 v Fife Flyers (away, 6.30pm)
Saturday 12 v Glasgow Clan (away, 7pm)
Sunday 13 v Nottingham Panthers (home, 6pm)
Saturday 19 v Belfast Giants (home, 7pm)
Sunday 20 v Belfast Giants (home, 4pm)
Your @cardiffdevils get the win! #RedArmy #loudandproud #letsgodevils pic.twitter.com/TIsupdOAUe
— CardiffDevilsRedArmy (@devils_redarmy) December 27, 2018
TICKETS for Devils home games available ONLINE HERE or by calling 0800 0842 666 or in person at the reception desk at VIOLA ARENA right up until face-off.
Other Elite League results on Thursday: Fife Flyers 3, Dundee Stars 0; Guildford Flames 6, MK Lightning 3; Sheffield Steelers 5, Nottingham Panthers 3; Glasgow Clan 3, Manchester Storm 4.
ELITE ICE HOCKEY LEAGUE 2018/19
| TEAM | GP | W | L | OTL | PTS | PCT | GF | GA | PIM | STREAK |
| Cardiff Devils | 30 | 21 | 5 | 4 | 46 | .767 | 122 | 79 | 364 | 1-0 |
| Belfast Giants | 30 | 22 | 7 | 1 | 45 | .750 | 113 | 66 | 433 | 1-0 |
| Nottingham Panthers | 34 | 18 | 9 | 7 | 43 | .632 | 109 | 100 | 544 | 0-2 |
| Fife Flyers | 30 | 16 | 10 | 4 | 36 | .600 | 104 | 96 | 411 | 1-0 |
| Guildford Flames | 30 | 16 | 13 | 1 | 33 | .550 | 100 | 91 | 414 | 2-0 |
| Sheffield Steelers | 31 | 16 | 15 | 0 | 32 | .516 | 94 | 102 | 431 | 2-0 |
| Glasgow Clan | 28 | 15 | 12 | 1 | 31 | .554 | 90 | 95 | 332 | 0-1 |
| Dundee Stars | 32 | 11 | 13 | 8 | 30 | .469 | 84 | 108 | 345 | 0-1 |
| Coventry Blaze | 29 | 11 | 12 | 6 | 28 | .483 | 92 | 109 | 375 | 0-1 |
| Manchester Storm | 31 | 12 | 16 | 3 | 27 | .435 | 85 | 112 | 794 | 1-0 |
| Milton Keynes Lightning | 31 | 10 | 19 | 2 | 22 | .355 | 75 | 110 | 602 | 0-2 |