Flames end losing run

Photo: James Assinder

Adam Long stopped all five penalty shots he faced to help Guildford Flames snap their losing streak with a 6-5 SO win over Cardiff Devils.

The Devils' second powerplay of the game saw them take the lead through Ryan Barrow at 12:32, Ryan Barrow taking Marcus Crawford's pass into the slot and beating Eamon McAdam with a nice deke. Matt Alvaro levelled under four minutes later after a trademark Ryan Tait break down the wing with Alvaro taking the pass and beating Ben Bowns at the second attempt.

After a tame two goals in the opening period, the second was a goal-fest for the sold-out Vindico Arena crowd. Barrow and Alvaro both scored powerplay goals just over 90 seconds apart early in to have the teams tied at two by 27:45. Jordan Klimek then put the Flames ahead for the first time in the game at 29:!7, only for Brandon Alderson to tie things up two minutes later. With three seconds left in the period, Joey Martin put the Devils back ahead, after which he and Alvaro were given fighting majors. Adam Long took over netminding duties for the Flames at 31:12 with McAdam injured.

Cardiff led 5-3 with 13:10 to go thanks to Jamie Arniel, but two goals in three and a half minutes changed all that. Sam Talbot pulled the Flames back to within one at 52:59, followed by captain Brett Ferguson levelling with 3:31 to play. Guildford spent the final 79 seconds of regulation on the powerplay following a late penalty of Evan Mosey, but the Devils held out to force overtime.

Alderson came close to winning it in overtime as he got a jump on a Flames defenseman but couldn't beat Long in what was arguably the best chance of the bonus period.

OT couldn't separate the teams, and the shootout ultimately had to. Steven McParland was the only scorer in the entire shootout, with Long stopping all five shots he faced.