By Terry Phillips
Cardiff Devils 4, Dundee Stars 2
(Devils won 8-3 on aggregate)
Captain Jake Morissette and his Cardiff Devils are through to the Challenge Cup semi-finals after skating to a comfortable aggregate win against Dundee Stars.
Belfast Giants, who defeated Manchester Storm 7-6 in their quarter-final, await Devils in the last four.
The Cup final will be played at Ice Arena Wales and Devils would love to be centre stage for that match. They have been in the final for the last two years, lifting the trophy in 2015.
Elite League leaders Devils have now defeated Stars four times in four matches this season and remain on course for a trophy double.
First period
Chris Culligan was back in the line-up after recovering from injury with coach Andrew Lord on the Devils bench.
It was Culligan who fired Devils ahead on the night when he ghosted into the zone and fired high into the net with Layne Ulmer and Scott Hotham adding assists (4-33).
Stars, playing a sensible, patient defensive game and looking to break fast, levelled the scores when Vinny Scarsella broke one-on-one and fired high into the Devils goal after 8-27 for a shorthanded strike.
The home team ran with their usual four lines. Joey Martin, Jake Morissette and Patrick Asselin led the way, while Culligan, Ulmer and Bentivoglio joined forces.
Guillaume Doucet, Matthew Myers and Joey Haddad were together with David Brine and Patrick Bordeleau had a variety of partners on the fourth line.
End of period: Devils 1, Stars 1.
Second period:
Scott Bannon restored Dundee’s one-goal lead only one minute 48 seconds into the middle period, but Devils hit back to go into the third leading 3-2 on the night and 7-3 on aggregate.
Joey Haddad (30-07) plus a powerplay strike by Sean Bentivoglio (39-00) kept Devils on course for the semi-finals.
Devils, who play again on Friday when Manchester Storm visit Cardiff Bay for a League match, were playing within themselves and kept Stars’ spirited comeback bid at bay.
End of second: Devils 3, Stars 2.
Third period
Layne Ulmer scored unassisted to give Devils a 4-2 lead, 8-3 on aggregate, and coach Lord took the opportunity to give goalie Ben Bowns a rest and send back-up Thomas Murdy into the action.
Luke Piggott and Chris Jones were getting regular shifts as Lord moved to ensure all of his players stay fresh for Friday’s home match against Storm.
End of third: Devils 4, Stars 2.
Match stats:
Scorers, Devils: C Culligan 1+0, J Haddad 1+1, S Bentivoglio 1+0, L Ulmer 1+1, S Hotham 0+1, A Hotham 0+1, M Richardson 0+1.
Stars: V Scarsella 1+0. S Bannon 1+0.
Period scores (Devils first): 1-1; 2-1 (3-2); 1-0 (4-2).
Penalties in minutes: Devils 0+0+0=0; Stars 4+2+0=6.
Powerplays: Devils 1/3; Stars 0/0.
Stars of the game: Devils, Chris Culligan; Stars, Vinny Scarsella.
Referee: Mike Hicks.