Netminder Ben Bowns shut out MK Lightning on a night when Cardiff Devils produced a solid, effective road trip for a 3-0 win at the Planet Ice Arena.
Charles Linglet, with a classy first period finish, Joey Haddad and man of the match Gleason Fournier scored for Devils, who dominated possession for most of the 60 minutes.
Lightning’s disappointing evening was completed when they had Andreas Valdix thrown out on a five minutes plus game penalty for checking to the head.
Devils outshot a spirited Lightning team 52-20, but Canadian goaltender Patrick Killeen produced a master class with a series of top quality saves.
DEVILS WIN!!!
A shut🍩ut for B🚫wnsy and goals from @TheRealCL07, @JoeyHaddad27 and @GleasonFournier gives us the two point tonightWe're back in action on Saturday at @TheViolaArena when we welcome the Stars to Cardiff pic.twitter.com/3IuPTbqg0W
— Cardiff Devils (@cardiffdevils) December 20, 2018
There were two or three chances which looked certain goals with Killeen apparently helpless, but somehow the big man threw out a leg or an arm to block.
It wasn’t until Haddad scored Cardiff’s second goal inside the last 10 minutes that they had complete control, but there is no question Devils were the better team.
This was the first of six matches in 11 days for Devils, who are at home against Dundee Stars at the Viola Arena in Cardiff Bay on Saturday (7pm).
Captain Jake Morissette and his team are second in Elite League, two points behind leaders Belfast Giants with two games in hand.
🎅🏻😈 Christmas jerseys SOHB 😈🎅🏻
All of our Christmas jerseys are up for grabs in a massive Christmas shirt of his back raffle this Saturday when we play the Dundee Stars!
🎟 https://t.co/rLJlTpsAKX pic.twitter.com/MEfGFsIOUM
— Cardiff Devils (@cardiffdevils) December 20, 2018
Match stats:
Scorers, Lightning: None.
Devils: Charles Linglet 1+0, Joey Haddad 1+0, Gleason Fournier 0+1, Mark Richardson 0+1, Layne Ulmer 0+1.
Period scores (Lightning first): 0-1; 0-0 (0-1); 0-2 (0-3).
Shots on goal: Lightning (on Bowns) 2+11+7=20; Devils (on Killeen) 14+21+17=52.
Penalties in minutes: Lightning 2+4+25=31; Devils 2+2+0=4
Special teams: Lightning PK 5/5, PP 0/2; Devils PP 2/2, PK 0/2.
Men of the match: Devils, Gleason Fournier.
Referees: Tom Darnell and Ilia Kisil
Attendance: 1,700.
Remaining Devils fixtures in 2018:
December
Saturday 22 v Dundee Stars (home, 7pm)
Sunday 23 v Guildford Flames (away, 6pm)
Boxing Day, Wednesday 26 v Coventry Blaze (away, 6pm)
Thursday 27 v Coventry Blaze (home, 7pm)
Sunday 30 v Guildford Flames (away, 6pm)
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 at 6pm.