Flames extend streak and lead at the top

Photo: John Uwins

Guildford Flames extended their league run to 10 games unbeaten, and moved on to six points clear at the top of the Premier Sports Elite League, thanks to a comeback win over Cardiff Devils.

The Devils started strong and found themselves two ahead inside six minutes. Marcus Crawford opened the scoring with a shot through traffic from the point at 3:12, followed just under two minutes later by Cole Sanford pinging the inside bar of Eamon McAdam's net from the circle. Daniel Tedesco got the Flames back into things at 8:41, but Jake Coughler put the Devils 3-1 up at 10:52 after an excellent fake and pass from Josh Batch. 

Coughler scored the only goal of period two when he batted home in front of the net off a pass from Justin Crandall, the latter having been denied on a 1-on-0 but with awareness to feed the puck back in front of McAdam's net. 

Guildford looked a different team in period three, however. Rob Lachowicz's smart pass into the slot set up Jordan Klimek for a wrist-shot finish 97 seconds into the period, and by 44:51 the Flames were level when Turner Ripplinger turned the puck over off Sam Jardine and finished high over Ben Bowns.

Neither side found a winner in regulation, although Trevor Cox was only a matter of inches from winning the game inside the final seconds. In overtime, Bradley Lalonde made a rush to the net spotted by Tedesco's perfect pass, and the defenseman fired home to earn Guildford the win.