Perlini hits comeback winner for Devils

Photo: Flyers Images

Cardiff Devils produced a comeback to beat Fife Flyers 5-4 in Kirkcaldy on Saturday night and end their weekend with a win, while the Flyers will have been disappointed not to have got something from the game.

Brett Perlini won it for the Devils with just over five minutes to go. “It was a slow start for us, it took us a while to get into the game,” said the GB international. “I thought we responded well in the second and third periods getting back to what makes us successful. We stuck with it and gritted out the win.”

Having almost played themselves into trouble at one end, the Flyers stole the puck off a faceoff in their own zone and broke down the ice with Lucas Chiodo putting a perfect pass on the stick of Phelix Martineau to deflect past Taz Burman and put the Flyers ahead with 3:39 played.

Cole Sanford’s shot from the point was deflected past Shane Owen by a Flyers’ stick to tie the game just under four minutes later, while a Tyler Heidt point shot drew Burman into a good pad save to keep the game level.

Chiodo put the Flyers back ahead with a wonderful move around Burman as he was allowed space to finish 10:30 into the opening period, while the hosts then went 3-1 ahead when Jordy Stallard got a debut goal as quickest to a rebound with 16:55 played.

Gleason Fournier got the Devils back to within one 6:15 into period two, but a Daniel Krenželok shot went through a crowd of players to beat Burman at 29:37 and make it 4-2 – the goal later credited to a tip from Massimo Carozza. Sam Duggan pulled the Devils back to just one behind again with 5:32 left in the second period.

Kohen Olischefski had an excellent chance to tie the game when he was sent through 1-on-0 on Owen early in period three but lifted the puck high over the net, but Joey Martin did level the scores 5:10 into the period at four each.

The Devils were the team on top for the 10 minutes or so after drawing level, and it was no surprise when they took the lead with 5:02 to play -Brett Perlini firing past Owen in the slot to make it 5-4 to the visitors.

“It felt good to score the winner,” added Perlini. “The team did well to battle back, I thought our line did some good things around the net all night.

“It was important to get back into the win column. In this league you can’t win it losing two straight very often so it was big for us to find a response.”