Weekend Review - Blaze & Steelers

SUNDAY, 7TH OCTOBER 2012 - Cardiff Devils @ Coventry Blaze (League)

Off to Coventry on Sunday were the Cardiff Devils and on par for a four point weekend!  After a thrilling 2-1 home win against the Sheffield Steelers, the Welsh side were all set to bring home those all important points.

  The Devils came out fighting, with some good chances early on.  The game was looking to be a physical one, with penalties coming for both teams, and Coventry’s Olson playing forward, hitting every Devil in range.  Cardiff managed to level him with an early first period goal, coming from fan favourite Max Birbraer, who was fresh on the ice after a three game suspension.

  The physical penalties continued and the Blaze starting applying the pressure on the powerplay.  Despite this, goaltender Phil Osaer stayed strong and the period finished with the Devils holding that one goal lead.

Even with the Blaze carrying the man advantage into the second, after Mac Faulkner was penalised at the end of the first, the Devils came out strongly.  There were some big hits and breakaway chances, before Cardiff finally sealed the deal and added an extra to their lead, again coming from Max Birbraer.

Unfortunately, the Blaze were not down and out; after former-Devil Sam Smith was sent to the box, Guthrie managed a shorthanded break, and slotted the puck past Osaer.  Second period finished 2-1.

The third was full of penalties and full of goals.  With penalties coming from both sides, it wasn’t surprising that the goals would follow.  The first side to capitalise was the visitors, giving Cardiff a 3-1 advantage.  Coventry then followed this up with one of their own.

With the score holding at 3-2, it seemed that Cardiff were going to clinch the points in regulation.  However, in a shock turn of events, Mike Bayrack evened the score with just over a minute remaining in the period. 

With the Blaze forcing overtime, everyone in the Skydome was on the edge of their seat.  Cardiff seemed to dominate, pushing Hirsch to make several fantastic saves, before finally adding that all-important game winning goal, curtesty of Tyson Marsh. 

Riding the high, the Devils will be in Belfast next Saturday (puck drop: 7pm) and the Red Army will be crashing into the O!  If you’re not travelling over, be sure to follow along with Match Night Live!  Let’s Go Devils!

Devils 4, Blaze 3 - OT Final

SATURDAY, 6 OCTOBER 2012 - CARDIFF DEVILS VS SHEFFIELD STEELERS (LEAGUE)

Cardiff would have been full of celebrating Red Army fans last night, as the Devils stormed past the Sheffield Steelers in a physically thrilling win.  After several poor shows and disappointing results, Gerad Adams and Neil Francis have been calling for patience from their fans, and that patience has paid off!

The Devils started brilliantly, with Devin Didiomete coming to life, sporting an early charging penalty.  The penalties continued to come throughout the period, and the rest of the game, before Cardiff finally capitalised on the man advantage.  At 11.02, Phil Hill shot the puck back door and put the Devils ahead whilst Stephenson was in the box for tripping.  The final few minutes past with a couple of penalties, and a brilliant display of goal tendering from the Steelers’ DeCaro.  In the end, the first twenty finished 1-0 Cardiff.

It was a slow start to the second period, with Sheffield delaying their return to the ice.  However, as soon as the puck drop, it was all guns blazing.  Just two minutes in, Brit Josh Batch earned himself a 2+10 for a check to the head, after flooring former-Devil Tylor Michel.  The physicality continued as both sides were penalised for roughing, and hooking. 

Just like in the first, Cardiff’s goal in the second came on the power play, after Stephenson was sent to the box again, this time coming from Mac Faulkner.  After Faulkner beat DeCaro on his glove side, the Steelers’ tightened up their defense and managed to push up, and slot one past Osaer, putting them on the board just minutes before the end of the second.

Sheffield were out late again coming in to the third, with Michel missing from the line-up.  Both tenders were forced to pull a few saves but neither team were able to add to their total, giving the Devils a rare regulation wins. 

Following last night’s home win, the boys are hoping to carry on their success in Coventry tonight, where they will face Paul Thompson and his Blaze side, which contains former-devil Sam Smith.  If you’re not heading up, make sure to follow the guys’ progress at Match Night Live on The Inferno.  Let’s Go Devils!

Devils 2, Steelers 1 – Final

You can read more on Holly's blog here http://theworldofsportbyateengirl.blogspot.com/