Devils do the Xmas Double

What the hell was that? I'm almost tempted to ask for a refund as I went to watch a typical Cardiff v Coventry grudge match.

What we got was Cardiff warming up for tomorrow's big game with a comfortable stroll over imposters in Coventry shirts. Because that wasn't a Blaze team. There was no desire, no determination, no effort and no ideas.

Had Jaeger not been fantastic in those first two periods especially it could have been 7 or 8 and the Blaze fans could not have complained.

Devils started the brighter and spent almost the entire first period in the Blaze zone. Thommo had presumably rung around other coaches to find a way to beat the Devils, and Christiansen had told him about how when at Caps he left a player on our blueline looking for the quick breakaway.
Only Christiansen forgot to tell him it never worked. It just gave the better skaters on the Devils side more space to move around, and by the end of the first period had even sorted out a system whereby the defencemen would swap over to create a free player on the blueline.
Blaze had the first powerplay, but set the tone of the night being absolutely awful and the Devils looking the more dangerous. The the Devils got a PP opportunity and they made it count.
Finnerty won the face off back to Kenton Smith, who unleashed a slapshot which flew between Jaeger and the near post for the lead.
Devils 1-0 Blaze

Cardiff continued to pepper Jaeger with shots and he was forced to make save after save, whilst the Blaze were restricted to clearing the puck in desperation and hoping their lone man up front could collect it. Most of the time he couldn't though and the Blaze were restricted to speculative long shots.

Into the second period, and the Blaze seemed to not bother with their lone striker tactic - not that it matter. Devils looked like they had failed to take advantage of another powerplay, but as the Blaze returned to full strength Jon Pelle slipped the puck forward to Stuart MacRae who one-timed it in from a tight angle.
Devils 2-0 Blaze

This seemed to spark the Blaze into life for the first (and only) time in the game. But as the game opened up a bit it allowed the Devils to create chance after chance. First Birbraer was left alone infront of the net, but after deking Jaeger he somehow fired wide. Tylor Michel looked like he was in on goal only for a Blaze defenceman to somehow steal the puck off him as he went to shoot. A two on one break then setup Finnerty infront of the net but he too fired wide when it looked easier to score. Next Pelle was set off on a breakaway, but his quick wrist shot was brilliantly saved with a quick-reaction pad save from Jaeger.
Blaze then went up the other end and after deking Lyle the Blaze player (Farmer?) looked certain to score only for Lyle to produce an even better pad save. In fact Lyle had his busiest spell of the game as the Blaze tried to get back into the game, but shortly before the end of the second period the Devils all but killed the game off. Michel setup MacRae and his slapshot may have taken a deflection as it flew over Jaeger's shoulder and into the net.
Devils 3-0 Blaze

Coventry were given a chance at the start of the third period, but with their powerplay woefully inept it was the Devils who took advantage. Finnerty broke away and although the Blaze defenceman caught him up, he waited until Pell had too and his pass was tapped into the far corner with ease for a short-handed goal.
Devils 4-0 Blaze

Coventry went back to their "one man upfront" tactic but it just allowed the Devils again to circle around the Blaze zone with ease. Devils were awarded a penalty shot after Weller was hacked down after a lovely flowing move, but Jaeger managed to block Weller's attempt with a good pad save. Finnerty nearly scored one of the goals of the season when he somehow fired the puck despite lying flat on the ice, only for the puck to ping back off the post.

Murdy replaced Jaeger with 12 minutes to go, and a minute later Finnerety decided he had had enough of Carlson leading with his stick and cross-checking players into the net from behind. After slashing him at the face-off, Finnerty then dropped the gloves and proceeded to give Carlson one hell of a beating. I'm not sure Carlson deserved/earned the 5 minutes for fighting penalty as I can't remember him throwing a punch. He went off with a cut to the face and I can't remember whether he played any further part in the game, but Finnerty definately didn't as he picked up 2+2+5+10 and was given an early shower and rest.

This gave the Blaze a 4 minute powerplay which reached new lows (or should that be highs?) in awfulness as the Devils forechecked them so well that I can't remember them having a decent chance.
Finally back to full strength, Voth got on the scoresheet when a speculative slapshot from the blueline flew over Murdy and into the net.
Devils 5-0 Blaze

Having seemingly been suffering from a mass epidemic of laryngitus, the Blaze fans finally found their voice after a bit of ribbing from the announcer and block 2. A friendly suggestion to them Blaze fans - don't sing "Show us your trophies" to the second most succesful british hockey team of all time.  

Lyle's shutout was broken in farcical terms. Blaze dumped the puck in and their seemed no danger when Lyle went to collect it, but when trying to clear it got into a right mess allowing the Blaze to intercept it and Fulghum tap it into the empty net. Just about.
Devils 5-1 Blaze

The goal drew massive celebrations..... from the Devils fans - such was the easyness of the win.

Devils then swapped Lyle for Myers, who didn't really do much apart from one good save after a deflection, as the Devils passed the puck around for the final couple of minutes to a chorus of "Ole!"s

As I said before, I don't think I can ever remember such a comfortable win over a Blaze team. Only Jaeger stood out for the Blaze as he stopped it being truly embrassing. Actually, Pease stood out too - but only because he is now about 6 foot wide.

For the Devils - Lyle made several good saves and probably deserved a shut out. His entire defence infront of him was excellent - though I guess they were helped by a clueless Blaze attack.

MacRae got MOTM for the Devils with his two well taken goals. But for me Scott Matzka was absolutely immense tonight. He was chasing down lost causes and winning them to create chance after chance for Pelle and Birbraer

Period Scores: 1-0, 2-0, 2-1
Penalty Mins: Cardiff  29 – Coventry 9
Powerplay: Cardiff  1/2 - Coventry 0/6
Shots On: Stevie Lyle 29/Myers 1 – Brett Jaeger 25/Murdy 8
Men of the Match: Sturat MacRae & Owen Fussey
Referee: Dean Smith