Devils begin new year with home shutout win

Photo: James Assinder

Mac Carruth made 36 saves as the Cardiff Devils started 2021 with a home shutout win against the Guildford Flames.

Josh Waller broke the deadlock with a beautiful solo effort, cutting on from the wing and calmly slotting through Kevin Lindskoug's five-hole 7:40 into things. The Devils could have doubled their lead towards the end of the opening 20 minutes, but some smart defensive work from the Flames stopped Sam Duggan coming in for the back post tap-in.

Guildford grew into the game during period two without necessarily calling Mac Carruth into emergency action. At the other end, Lindskoug pulled off an excellent pad-stack save to keep his team within one with under four minutes left in the second.

Carruth was called upon to keep the Devils ahead in the third, Levi Cable with one of the Flames' better opportunities as the clock ticked down, but the Flames were unable to make more from their better possession.

Justin Candell found the empty net with 66 seconds remaining to ensure the Devils took the points.

Gallery