Cardiff Devils 8, Dundee Stars 6

Cardiff Devils were rocked by the shooting Stars of Dundee, but came through the Elite League test with flying colours.

The Scottish visitors led 3-1 and 5-3 at the Viola Arena in Cardiff Bay and Devils were forced to fight and scrap to the bitter end.

With 10 minutes left Dundee led 6-5, but Devils scored three times to take the points.

Goals from Matt Pope (2), Mark Richardson, Sean McMonagle, Matias Sointu, Matthew Myers, Gleason Fournier and Stephen Dixon led Cardiff to a stunning victory.

It was a tough ask because this was a fourth match in six days for Cardiff, who played European champions Frolunda Indians in Sweden only two days ago.

Remarkably, though, Devils won the final period 5-1, a stat which underlined the fitness, hunger and desire of Lord’s players.

Head coach Andrew Lord welcomed back Blair Riley from injury and he joined Charles Linglet and Stephen Dixon on a potent line, but Mike McNamee and Evan Mosey were still missing.

The Riley, Linglet, Dixon line popped up with the seventh goal to put Devils ahead at a crucial time and they earned a magnificent victory.

Devils players must have been desperately tired, but they fought with character, spirit and a hunger for victory.

Those Devils fans who can occasionally be negative about their team simply have to applaud the sheer effort and commitment shown in this home win.

Stars have beaten Glasgow Clan and Belfast Giants, both home and away, plus Manchester Storm, Guildford Flames and Fife Flyers this season – and they are a team with an abundance off power and pace.

Yet Lord’s Devils overcame a massive challenge to snatch a memorable victory.

Devils looked in trouble with only five minutes left when Riley (slashing) and Reddick (holding the stick) were penalised on 54-53. That handed Stars two minutes of 5v3 – and they quickly pulled goalie Alex Leclerc to give them a sixth skater.

Then Welsh winger Matthew Myers fired into the empty net and clinched a hard-earned victory for the home team, who now has e the luxury of trio full days off before they travel to face Coventry Blaze in a League clash on Sunday.

Match stats:

Scorers, Devils: Matt Pope 2+0, Stephen Dixon 1+0, Mark Richardson 1+1, Sean McMonagle 1+1, Gleason Fournier 1+1, Matias Sointu 1+0, Matthew Myers 1+0, Joey Martin 0+2, Sam Jardine 0+1, Masi Marjamaki 0+2, Blair Riley 0+2, Joey Haddad 0+1, Sean Bentivoglio 0+1, Chareles Linglet 0+1.

Stars: Elgin Pearce 2+0, Drydn Dow 2+1, Kevin Dufour 1+0, Justin Maylan 1+2, Matt Marquardt 0+1, Craig Gans 0+1, Shawn Boutin 0+1, Anthony Beauregard 0+1, Egils Kalns 0+1.

Period scores (Devils first): 1-1; 2-4 (3-5); 5-1 (5-6)

Penalties in minutes: Devils 2+8+4=  ; Stars 2+4+2=

Attendance: 2,128

Referees: Stefan Hogarth, Dean Smith

Cardiff Devils team:

Starting goalie: Ben Bowns

Back-up goalie: Thomas Murdy

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

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

Third line: Sean McMonagle, Mark Louis, Masi Marjamaki, Joey Haddad, Matias Sointu

Fourth line: Tomas Rutkis, Josh Batch, Matthew Myers, Sam Duggan