Storm shock Devils to stay in fight for playoffs
Photo: James Assinder
Having lost at home to Dundee Stars on Friday night, Manchester Storm had no option but to win in Cardiff to reduce the 10-point deficit to a playoff place - and they did so in style with a 5-3 win over the Devils at a sold-out Vindico Arena.
A chaotic opening period ended with the Devils 3-2 ahead as they shaded the five-goal first period. Andre MacWilliam's shot from the point was tipped by Joey Martin in front of David Tendeck with 6:20 played to open the scoring, but the Storm were level 43 seconds later when the Devils failed to clear their zone and the puck landed kindly for Ryan Hughes to fire home in the slot.
Former Storm forward Ryan Barrow took Gleason Fournier's pass in the slot and turned to fire past Tendeck to put the Devils back ahead just shy of the 10-minute mark. Again, however, Storm hit back - this time captain Cam Critchlow putting home a shot that came back off the back boards just over two and a half minutes later.
Cardiff ended the period ahead thanks toJoeyu Martin scoring their third of the night when Barrow worked the puck to him in the centre of the slot for another neat wrist-shot finish at 17:43.
The only goal of the middle period went the way of the Storm. A long pass from Craig Martin left Carruth unable to come out and play the puck, but was perfectly weighted for Alexis D'Aoust to reach and then beat the Devils goalie to tie the game at 35:33.
Storm killed off an early third-period penalty, and then shocked the Vindico Arena by taking the lead. As happened a week earlier against Coventry Blaze, the Devils found themselves behind for the first time on the night inside the final eight minutes of the game with a shot from the point - Noah Carroll the scorer this week with a shot that may have taken one, if not two, deflection on the way to the net.
Manchester clogged up the centre of the ice which restricted the Devils to creating any Grade A chances in front of Tendeck in the closing stages. Tyler Hinam wrapped things up on the empty net with 47 seconds to go to claim a vital win for the Storm.
