Devils Vs Capitals - Match Review

 The boys are back in the BBT tonight, as they welcome the Edinburgh Capitals into the Welsh capital.  This was the Capitals first game in two weeks, after they had an unexpected week off when their game against the Nottingham Panthers being postponed due to bad weather last Sunday.  On the other hand, our Devils were coming off a bad weekend, losing out to both the Belfast Giants and the Braehead Clan, despite putting up a fantastic fight in both games.  Were they able to turn their luck around this week?  Of course they were…

 First period started off fairly well for our Welsh boys, with an early powerplay showing some extreme improvement.  Shots were coming frequently for the Devils but nothing was getting through fellow Welshman Nathan Craze.  With the first half of the first quiet, it wasn’t until the 12th minute that the Devils lit up the scoreboard; our very own powerhouse forward Phil Hill started off the Devils’ scoring with a fabulous goal, from Jeff Pierce and captain Stuart MacRae.  Of course, this wasn’t going to be the only points of the game going to this line, but we’ll get back to that in a minute.  Unfortunately, the Devils didn’t stay ahead for long, as two minutes later, Rene Jarolin, who has just announced that he is to re-sign with the Capitals for the 2012/2013 season, slotted the puck passed Stevie Lyle. 

  With a goal for each side, you would think that that was all the action we had time for in the first period.  If that was what you thought, then you would have been wrong.  At the exact moment the buzzer rang, an altercation broke out in front of the home bench, involving Sam Smith and Gerad Adams from the Devils, and Jiri Hanzel from the Capitals.  Each player got at least two for roughing, and Smith got a game for ‘third man in’.  The period ended 1-1 and Capitals would start the second on the powerplay.

  Despite starting the period on the penalty kill, the Devils didn’t stay down for long.  At the 25 minute mark, Captain Stuart MacRae pushed Craze for his second points of the night.  The Devils’ second goal of the night was set up by an incredible run by number 93, Jeff Pierce, with the other going to Phil Hill.  The Devils’ luck and good play continued on into the second half of the second period, when MacRae got his second of the night, with a powerplay goal no less!  Devils were now 2 goals ahead, until Edinburgh’s MOM Jarolin also got his second of the night, on the powerplay, bringing the score to 3-2 at the end of the second.

  With the Devils leading by a goal going into the third, it was clear that Edinburgh were desperate for an equaliser.  Their desperation, although bringing on some great play, failed to even the score and, after some big hits from the Cardiff side, Devils’ MOM Jeff Pierce managed to widen the deficit further with a powerplay goal, giving the Devils a 4-2 lead.   This was followed up by the Devils’ 5th goal, scored by number 25 Phil Hill.  This was his second of the night, demonstrating how lethal that line truly was; all goals and assists, bar one, where tallied by the Hill-MacRae-Pierce line.  The final score: 5-2 Devils, with those two crucial points going in the pot.

  Tomorrow night, the Devils travel north of the border for the return leg of this double header weekend, hoping to bring the success with them to Murrayfield.  Hopefully, the MNL will be covering the game, but are in desperate need of texters (if available, email OJ on matchnightlive@gmail.com).  On the other hand, the Edinburgh Capitals will be webcasting the game at http://www.edinburgh-capitals.com/webcast/ .  Let’s go Devils!

You can check out Holly's blog here http://theworldofsportbyateengirl.blogspot.com/