Devils come from behind, stay alive in Cup
Photo: Scott Wiggins
Cardiff Devils got the win they needed to stay alive in the Challenge Cup, but had to do it the hard way as they came back from a goal down in the final period to run out 4-3 winners.
Brett Perlini assisted on all four Devils goals, directly setting up the last three. “It was a big one for us tonight. We knew coming into this game that it was a ‘do or die’ situation for us in the Cup and we played pretty desperate,” said the GB forward. “We went down a few times but we fought back and I really liked our game tonight.”
It was a nervy opening period with both teams knowing what was at stake. The Devils controlled the majority of the opening 20 minutes, but somewhat against the run of platy found themselves behind - Brandon Alderson firing home against his former team at 13:43 to give the Blaze the lead through 20 minutes.
The Devils were level 5:42 into period two when Cody Donaghey's one-timer from the point was tipped past Mat Robson by Reid Duke in front. Just over 10 minutes later, Perlini threw the puck into the slot from down low to Evan Mosey who picked his moment to wrist home at 35:55. 2-1 Devils after two periods at the Skydome.
The Blaze could not have asked for a better start to the third. Chase Gresock levelled just 18 seconds into the period with an incredible Michigan goal! Then, a little over eight minutes later, the home side were ahead when Jackson Gressy drove the net and poked the puck over the line after Ben Bowns couldn't keep it out with his left pad.
On the very next shift, however, the Blaze turned the puck over in their own zone allowing Perlini to find Tyler Busch for a snipe past Robson to level things again.
With 9:09 to play, Reid Duke was given too much space in the offensive zone and picked his spot past Robson to put the Devils back in front.
Coventry came close to tying things again but some last-ditch Devils defending kept them out. Robson went to the bench for the final 42 seconds, but a late block on a Terrance Amorosa shot ended the home side's hopes of equalising and the Devils held on for a vital two points.
"I thought we were all on the same page tonight. It makes the game easy when you have that support there, you’re always a play ahead. We got pucks to the net and it went in for us tonight," added Perlini on the win.
The Devils will take on Nottingham just before Christmas in a game they need to win to progress to the next round of the Cup - a result that will eliminate the Blaze if they do so."
"Obviously it’s one game at a time, but we have to approach that game the same way we played tonight: work hard, stick to our systems and I think we’ll have a good chance," concluded Perlini.
