Devils qualify for playoffs with OT win in Coventry

Photo: Scott Wiggins

Cardiff Devils booked their place in the playoffs, and moved four points clear in fourth, with an overtime win in Coventry over the Blaze. A crowd of 2,345 saw the game go beyond 60 minutes.

"It feels good to score the winner. It’s always tought to come into Coventry but we’re happy with the two points" said game-winner Cole Sanford after the game. "It's important for us to find out game, especially with the Cup Final coming up. The standings are tight and with us playing Nottingham tomorrow we need to find a big two points."

Both sides skated well throughout the opening 10 minutes and created some decent chances. The scoring started at 10:19 with a Ryan Barrow goal putting the Devils ahead.

Coventry have the league’s best powerplay and needed just 28 seconds of a Joey Martin slashing minor to level – Chase Gresock firing home form the point at 12:49. The Devils went back ahead on a powerplay of their own with three seconds left in the period through Kohen Olischefski to lead 2-1 at the break.

In a second period heavy with penalties, the Devils extended their lead at 27:06/ The Blaze thought Nick Seitz's shot had hit the safety netting, but the Devils played to the while and broke 2-on-1 the other way with Sam Duggan jamming the puck over the line past Robson. That was the only goal of the middle period.

3:49 into period three, Alessio Luciani deflected David Clements' shot past Mac Carruth to make it 2-3. The play was review for a combination of a high stick or a kicking motion, and awarded after checking the video. 27 seconds later, the game officials were back in the box looking at a Michael Regush shot which appeared to hit the crossbar. The officials came back out and awarded the goal, although the replays shown on the game feed suggested otherwise - though with no clear overhead angle provided by the Blaze to tell definitively. That put things at a tied game with over 15 minutes to play, although the league's hottest couldn't take advantage of Josh MacDonald being called for hooking and then taking another two minutes for arguing it. 

With both sides taking a point after 60 minutes, the Blaze saw Mike Kennedy called for slashing 2:27 into overtime. 40 seconds later, Cole Sanford crashed a one-time through Robson to earn the Devils the extra point which they probably deserved.