Devils win cup Group B in dramatic shootout

Photo: James Assinder

There was high drama at Ice Arena Wales as the Cardiff Devils came back from two goals down to eventually beat the Guildford Flames in a shootout - and thus secure top spot in Premier Sports Challenge Cup Group B.

Cardiff got themself in a defensive mess to help the Flames take the lead - Mark Richardson and Brodie Dupont seemed to tangle each other up, allowing Ian McNulty to take the puck in the offensive zone and fire past Taran Kozun with 5:20 gone.

That lead was doubled five minutes later when Josh Lammon was binned for hooking, and nice Flames passing set up Jake Bolton for the blueline thunderbolt.

Two penalties on the visitors gave the Devils a chance to get on the board. Although the Flames survived the 62 second 5-on-3, Brodie Reid's slapshot was saved by Kevin Lindskoug, but the rebound poked home by Brandon McNally at 12:40 to get the Devils back into things.

Guildford restored their two-goal advantage early in period two, forcing a turnover in the Devils’ zone and eventually getting the puck to Brett Ferguson in front for the finish.

McNally grabbed his and the Devils’ second of the game when Josh Batch’s shot from distance was saved, but McNally jumped on the rebound and showed good patience to lift the puck over Lindskoug.

With just over three minutes left in the middle period, Justin Crandall's clever pass from the blueline across the zone fell perfectly for Stephen Dixon to deflect the puck home and tie the game.

After six goals in the opening 40 minutes, the two sides played out a caged third with both well aware of what was on the line. No goals in period three led to overtime, which also failed to produce a winner.

The game was eventually decided in a shootout which needed 12 rounds to eventually be decided - Reid and McNulty both scored in the first round, but it wasn't until Reid found the net with the twelfth shot overall that the winner was decided - the Devils taking the extra point to win the group.

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