Devils stay clear at top of league

Photo: James Assinder

Cardiff Devils stayed two points clear at the top of the Elite League with a 5-1 win over Guildford Flames at a sold-out Vindico Arena.

In an opening period that the home side dominated, Kohen Olischefski put them ahead at 7:10. While the Devils forward was hooked by Josh Waller, he carried on and let a shot fly past Eamon McAdam to open the scoring. The Flames were on the back foot for most of the period but drew themselves level at 14:35 when Matt Alvaro's throw to the crease deflected past Mac Carruth off a Devils defenseman.

Joey Martin broke on an odd-man rush and fed Cole Sanford for a neat finish 65 seconds into period two, while a Brett Perlini powerplay after good work by Evan Mosey at 23:32 put the Devils 3-1 ahead in a matter of minutes. Martin had the Devils' fourth with a shot from the point that seemed to have landed in McAdam's glove but somehow slipped out and trickled over the line at 31:19.

Daniel Tedesco had the Flames' best chance to pull themselves back to within two, but couldn't beat Carruth when sent through 1-on-0 shorthanded. The league's leading goal-scorer Josh McDonald capped off the win with the Devils' fifth with 3:03 to play as Cardiff ended 2024 at the top of the table.