Quick goals win it for Devils

Photo: James Assinder

Cardiff Devils scored two quick goals to come from behind and beat Guildford Flames in Challenge cup action at a sold out Vindico Arena.

It was a good start from the hosts who were ahead inside four minutes. With 3:34 played, Cole Sanford tipped Evan Mosey's shot in the slot to put the Devils into an early lead. Guildford grew into the period, however, and were level thanks to a Turner Ripplinger shot that beat Callum Booth, playing his first EIHL game, five-hole at 11:48. Not two minutes later, Bradley Lalonde let rip a trademark one-timer from the point to fire the Flames into the lead.

Period two ended without goals, but was no less entertaining than the opening 20 minutes. The Flames survived an early bench minor for Too Many Men but were then thrown a two-man Advantage for some 1:40 - despite loading up both Bradley Lalonde and Ben O'Connor for slapshots, Booth remained unbeaten and the hosts took a sizable momentum boost from killing the penalty off. The Devils' best chance of the period fell to Mosey on a breakaway, but he shot straight at Burman.

The home side turned the game with a pair of goals in 80 seconds. Cole Sanford on a second effort got the Devils level at 49:05 some 30 seconds after the Flames had killed off a Lewis Hook Slashing minor. At 50:25, a stretch pass from Marcus Crawford set Cole Ully through in the Flames zone, and he picked out Justin Crandall who beat Burman with a lovely deke to put the home side back into the lead.

Trevor Cox slotted into the empty net to make things safe with 51 seconds remaining.