Flames end 2023 with double over Devils

Photo: James Assinder

Guildford Flames ended 2023 with a four-point weekend over Cardiff Devils, beating the Devils 6-2 at a sold-out Vindico Arena on Sunday afternoon.

As they had done 24 hours earlier, the Devils went ahead early - Jamie Arniel one-timed a Cole Ully pass under Eamon McAdam with 3:51 gone on a poweprlay. Unlike the previous day's game, however, the Flames got themselves level at one each thanks to Patrik Bajkov at 15:03, and the teams headed into the first intermission with a powerplay goal each. 

The Devils were only a crossbar away from going back ahead early in period two, but the play developed and they saw Lewis Hook set up Peter Crinella beat Ben Bowns high to put the Flames ahead at 27:41. Arniel tied the game with 7:37 remaining in the middle frame, and the sides ended the period as they'd begun it, all square again.

Arniel tied the game with 7:37 remaining in the middle frame, and the sides ended the period as they'd begun it, all square.

The Flames made use of an early powerplay in the third and went ahead off a set faceoff play with Brett Ferguson feeing Hook for the g-o-ahead goal at 42:32. On the 48-minute mark, Turner Ripplinger tipped a Jordan Klimek shot in front of Bowns to give the visitors a two-goal lead, while Crinella capitalised on a defensive mistake from Bode Wilde to make it 5-2 with 8:23 left in the period.

Bajkov ended the scoring at 55:20 with the Flames' sixth of the night to earn them their second straight win in Wales.