Devils Vs The Clan - Game Review

It’s hockey night in Cardiff, and a very special at that!  It’s today that we say our final farewell to the legend that is the Mayor of Cardiff, Mr Brad Voth.  In welcoming the Braehead Clan into the BBT tonight, the Cardiff Devils will be hoping for a fantastic game to end Vother’s time in the ‘Diff.  Despite losing out to the Belfast Giants last night, the Devils still have it all to play for, with those two precious league points up for grabs.  Head on down to the BBT for a later start of 7pm tonight, to cheer on your Cardiff Devils and say farewell to a great leader.  Let’s make this a good one for the big guy!

 So the Devils are back on home ice and ready to take on the Braehead Clan.  With emotions running high, the Red Army welcomed legend Brad Voth into the BBT for the last time, gracing him with a standing ovation, whilst a montage of the Mayor’s time with the Devils played in the background.  With anthems and the like out of the way, the game was underway, with the Devils starting strongly.  Throughout the first few minutes of the opening twenty minutes, the Devils pressured the Clan defence, forcing their way through; holding them at bay was a solid wall in the shape of net minder, Jaakko Suomalainen, who was forced to make some fantastic saves.
  Despite the continuing pressure from the welsh side, Clan defenseman Drew Bannister managed to work his way through the Devils’ skaters and slot the puck passed tender Lyle, at 9.11.  This seemed to kick-start the rest of the Scottish side, who began to create more chances for themselves.  With more chances for the Clan came less for the Devils, and the Scottish first line looked deadly.  After several penalties, the Devils find themselves on the PP, although all that comes from it is an altercation between our own #25 Phil Hill and the remaining Clan players on the ice.  Unfortunately for the Devils, as soon as the Clan reach full strength, Jade Galbraith is straight into the Devils’ zone, throwing the puck on net, giving the Clan a 2-0 lead.  He followed this up a minute later with his second of the night at 18.41.  First period ends 3-0 Clan.

 With the shots favouring the visiting team throughout the first twenty minutes, it was going to take a serious pep-talk to changes the way of play for the Devils.  Coming out after the intermission break, it seemed that whatever was said in the locker room was slow to take effect, with the Clan camped out in the Devils’ zone.  Despite this, the Cardiff boys were not down and out, coming back with a vengeance in the 26th minute, when American forward Jeff Piece shot the puck into an open net, having tricked both the defensemen and Jaakko Suomalainen into coming out too far.  Pierce then circled round and received the pass off his skate, before moving the puck quickly from his stick into the back of the net.

 Throughout the period, both teams had seen several minor penalties.  Neither team managed to use the accompanying advantages to their advantage, the five combined power plays all going without any goals.  The penalties that caused these power plays were all, as already mentioned, minor and most were inconsequential, almost to the point of boredom, at least until the 36th minutes, when both Kenton Smith and Ryan Campbell both being sent to the box for roughing, after get tangled together.  Second period ended 3-1 Clan.

 What I wouldn’t give to have been a fly on the wall in the Devils’ locker room during the 2nd intermission break!  In a complete turnaround, Cardiff managed to score three goals in the space of ten minutes; the first, at 42.48, was from players/coach Gerad Adams, with some incredible end to end magic.  Jeff Pierce then came in with his second of the night at 45.09, followed by Scott Dobben at 48.43 with the third.  Unfortunately, despite the increase in intensity by the welsh side and the increase in saves Suomalainen was being called upon to make, the Devils failed to increase their lead.  In fact, with only 31 seconds left on the clock, Jade Galbraith, scoring his third goal of the night, pulled the Clan level, just as the Red Army were getting ready to cheer home the win.  Off into OT we went, 4-4 the score at the end of regulation.

 But, unfortunately for the Red Army, overtime came and went, with no goals for either side, despite the five minutes being Devils’ dominated.  There were some close calls, with Devils’ forward Scott Matzka going close with only 43 seconds remaining, but it was not to be. 

Into penalty shootout we went, a feat that will make any Devils’ fan nervous… it is well known that we are not the best in shootouts, but each time we give it our all.  First up for the Clan was MOM Jade Galbraith, who put the puck just wide of Stevie Lyle.  Devils’ first shooter was defensemen Kenton Smith, who managed to put the puck passed Suomalainen and give the Red Army some hope.  The shots continued, with the Clan’s Krestanovuch also scoring his to put the two sides level.  Both Richardson and Pierce stepped up to the mark, both having their shots saved.  Just like in regulation, Galbraith came back for the Clan to score again and put them ahead two to one.  Our final shooter, Kenton Smith, had to score for us to remain in the game.  However, in a dark turn of events, the Clan tender managed to put his glove to good use and stopped Smith’s shot, ending the shootout and the game.  Final score 5-4 Clan, after OT and SO.

  Despite the loss, the Devils definitely showed what they are made out of, and gave Brad Voth a fantastic send off.  We wish the Mayor all the best in whatever he may find himself doing and hope he comes back to visit soon.  Nobody be dishearten by the weekend’s result; come on down to the BBT on Saturday (11th Feb) night, when the Cardiff Devils welcome the Edinburgh Capitals.  Let’s go Devils!

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