Motte blanks Devils to help Blaze to home win

Photo: Scott Wiggins

CJ Motte secured his second successive shutout as Coventry Blaze beat Cardiff Devils by three at the Skydome on Saturday night.

Cardiff had the better of the opening period which ultimately ended goalless. Their best chance to break the deadlock came when Jake Coughler was awarded a penalty shot after being impeded on the breakaway, but CJ Motte stuck with the Devils' forward to stop the shot.

The Devils came out hard in period two and forced Motte into a couple of early saves, but the momentum shifted in the game as the Blaze bean to take over. Coventry forced a turnover in the offensive zone and an excellent Ross Venus pass set up Janne Kivilahti for the finish at 31:55. The Devils began to let their frustrations get the better of them with three penalties in five minutes as the period ticked down, but the Blaze were unable to double their lead.

Johnny Curran missed a golden chance to make it 2-0 with under 3:30 to play, coming at the back post from a Luke Ferrara's pass but firing wide of Mac Carruth's net. Devils coach Skalde pulled his goalie for the extra skater with over 2:20 to play, but off an offensive zone faceoff the Devils couldn't keep the puck in the zone and hard-work paid off for Ross Venus who was then able to skate down the ice to fire into the empty cage.

Mitch Cook found the empty net to make it 3-0 as Carruth was out again with the Devils' last throw of the dice to try and get back into the game not working out.