Bowns shuts out Clan

Photo: James Assinder

Cardiff Devils stayed 12 points behind league leaders Sheffield Steelers with a two-goal, shutout win over Glasgow Clan at a sold-out Vindico Arena.

The Devils carried the majority of the play in the opening period, but, despite their possession and shot count, failed to call Antti Karjalainen into any big saves. Arguably the best chance of the period fell to Charlie Combs on the breakaway, but Ben Bowns stood tall.

The home side went ahead 49 seconds into period two with Mike Pelech serving a Tripping minor. Having looked for the shot but it wasn't there, the Devils went back to Marcus Crawford who again fed Brandon Alderson to this time unleash a one-timer into Karjalainen's net. Karjalainen was the reason the game stayed at just 1-0 with a double save off Jamie Arniel and then Cody Donaghey following up some seven minutes later.

Clan started period three on the front foot but were unable to take advantage of two early powerplays as they looked for an equaliser. With 9:27 to play, the Devils thought they'd gone two ahead with Alderson's second of the night - but Jason Morgan challenged for play for Goaltender Interference and won, keeping the score at 1-0. A late third-period chance saw only the crossbar of Bowns' net keep the Gary Haden and Clan out. Trevor Cox and Joey Martin should have put the game to bed with 2:30 left on the clock, but they couldn't execute the 2-on-1 and it stayed a one-goal game.

The Devils did an excellent job of keeping the puck into the final minute to delay Clan pulling Karjalainen for the extra attacker, and when they did it took only moments for Ryan Barrow to skate through and find the empty net.