Sanford hat trick helps Devils to home win

Photo: James Assinder

It was 'job done' for the Cardiff Devils in part one of what needs to be a four-point weekend if they're to keep any title hopes alive. Two goals in each period helped them to a 6-2 home win against Guildford at a sold out Ice Arena Wales.

The Devils took a two-goal advantage into the first intermission thanks two Cole Sanford goals 1:42 apart, both scored on the powerplay. Rob Lachowicz was in the box when Sanford scored his first at 12:16 with a nice tip on Trevor Cox's feed towards the net, with the second fired home off a pass in front from Sam Duggan.

Matt Register and Jamal Watson dropped the gloves with 5:18 left in the period to further energise the crowd.

John Dunbar got the Flames back into things with a goal 5:23 into period two, but in less than then minutes the visitors found themselves three down. Justin Crandall made it 3-1 at 31:25, before Matt Register wristed through traffic at 33:55 to give the hosts a three-goal lead.

Sanford completed his hat trick 2:11 into the final period to effectively kill off any slim hopes the Flames had of launching a fightback, with Jake Coughler netting the home side's sixth at 54:38. Chris Gerrie added a late consolation for the Flames.