Cardiff Devils 3, Manchester Storm 1
Gleason Fournier had Cardiff Devils fans celebrating wildly when he scored a magnificent coast-to-coast goal at the Viola Arena.
Fabulous Fournier, a smooth skating defenceman of the highest order, left Manchester Storm gasping with the quality of his goal.
Devils and Storm were locked at 1-1 when Fournier skated from one end of the ice to the other and bamboozled goalie Matt Ginn with a magnificent finish.
Icetime TV lead commentator Gareth Huish summed up the goal, saying: “Fournier skates with the grace of a swan – and his wrist shot had the venomous bite of a rattlesnake.”
https://twitter.com/cardiffdevils/status/1081851958007418880
Former Devils captain Ryan Finnerty is Storm’s coach and said: “For 51 minutes we plated a really good hockey game.
“Two of our guys were caught below the top of the circle in the offensive zone and the way we play that’s not good.
“Fournier made us pay for that. It was an error on our part, but a great goal for Devils.”
Storm went through the 60 minutes without taking a penalty for the second time in three matches, but they were undone by Devils goals from Mike Hedden, Fournier and Matt Pope.
Devils coach Andrew Lord and his team are on their way ti Scotland for Sunday’s Elite clash with Fife Flyers.
Lord’s men earned a tight win against Manchester Storm to stay ahead top of the table.
http://https://youtu.be/jTNuKJDn3X4
Hedden scored at 11-17 when Fournier’s shot saved by goalie Ginn and the loose puck was fired high from the rebound.
Manchester were level before the period was over after Dallas Ehrhardt’s shot was blocked by a Devils’ defenceman and Mike Hammond followed up from the slot to fire past Bowns to level the scores at 15-18.
It was still 1-1 after 40 minutes, but then Fournier’s wonder goal left Storm down and out.
Fournier’s finish, high over Ginn’s shoulder at 46-40 stunned Storm.
An excellent solo goal by Matt Pope, cutting in from the wing across Gin and finishing five-hole, secured the Devils the points with just over two minutes to go.
Devils finished with 41 shots on goal, while Bowns made 17 saves for the win.
https://twitter.com/cardiffdevils/status/1081675018977857541
Match stats
Scorers, Devils: Mike Hedden 1+0, Gleason Fournier 1+1, Matt Pope 1+0, Charles Linglet 0+1, Sean Bentivoglio 0+2, Bryce Reddick 0+1.
Storm: Mike Hammond 1+0, Dallas Erhardt 0+1, Luke Moffatt 0+1.
Period scores (Devils first): 1-1; 0-0 (1-1(l 2-0 (3-1).
Shots on goal: Devils (on Ginn) 8+5+5-18; Devils (on Bowns) 11+15+15=41.
Penalties in minutes: Devils 2+0+0=2; Storm 0+0+0=0.
Special teams: Devils PK 1/1, PP 0/0; Storm PK 0/0, PP 0/1.
Stars of the game: Devils, Gleason Fournier; Storm, Matt Ginn.
Referees: Tom Pering and Stefan Hogarth.
Attendance: 3,100.
Other results: Belfast Giants 5, Sheffield Steelers 4 (overtime); Glasgow Clan 9, Dundee Stars 2; Nottingham Panthers 2, Fife Flyers 6.
ELITE ICE HOCKEY LEAGUE 2018-19
| TEAM | GP | W | L | OTL | PTS | PCT | GF | GA | PIM | STREAK |
| Cardiff Devils | 33 | 24 | 5 | 4 | 52 | .788 | 131 | 84 | 382 | 4-0 |
| Belfast Giants | 34 | 25 | 8 | 1 | 51 | .750 | 130 | 78 | 468 | 1-0 |
| Nottingham Panthers | 38 | 20 | 11 | 7 | 47 | .618 | 123 | 115 | 647 | 0-1 |
| Fife Flyers | 33 | 18 | 11 | 4 | 40 | .606 | 116 | 106 | 450 | 2-0 |
| Glasgow Clan | 32 | 18 | 13 | 1 | 37 | .578 | 112 | 105 | 382 | 3-0 |
| Sheffield Steelers | 34 | 17 | 16 | 1 | 35 | .515 | 107 | 116 | 459 | 0-2 |
| Guildford Flames | 33 | 16 | 16 | 1 | 33 | .500 | 105 | 100 | 432 | 0-3 |
| Dundee Stars | 36 | 12 | 15 | 9 | 33 | .458 | 93 | 127 | 365 | 0-3 |
| Coventry Blaze | 32 | 13 | 13 | 6 | 32 | .500 | 106 | 120 | 399 | 1-0 |
| Manchester Storm | 34 | 13 | 18 | 3 | 29 | .426 | 95 | 124 | 806 | 0-1 |
| Milton Keynes Lightning | 35 | 11 | 22 | 2 | 24 | .343 | 85 | 128 | 656 | 0-1 |