Devils hit Blaze for eight

Photo: James Assinder

Cardiff Devils responded to their pre-Christmas shutout defeat in Sheffield by thrashing Coventry Blaze by eight without response at a sold out Vindico Arena on Boxing Day.

It was a one-goal lead for Cardiff after the opening 20 minutes in South Wales. Tyler Busch had the only goal of the period, scored at 3:31 with a tip on a Bode Wilde shot from the point. The play went to a lengthy video review but the goal was eventually upheld. Coventry almost hit back on a Trevor Cox Tripping minor, but couldn't beat Ben Bowns on the resulting powerplay despite coming close. 

Cole Sanford put the Devils two ahead 6:46 into period two, before another video review was needed to see if the hosts had gone three ahead. The on-ice call was initially no goal, but after review it was decided that no Devils player had touched Evan Mosey's shot en route to the net, and the goal was awarded at 29:11. Marcus Crawford made it 4-0 while James Shearer was sitting a Cross Checking minor, and things for even worse for the Blaze who conceded shorthanded at 33:32 of an excellent goal by Ben Davies. Taran Kozun was pulled for Nolan Kent after that goal.

Anything the Devils shot seemed to find the back of the net, and that continued into period three. Jamie Arniel made it 6-0 2:07 into the third, with Evan Mosey making it seven at 53:41. Sanford ended the night's scoring with 80 seconds left on the clock to wrap up an 8-0 win for the Devils.