Riley snatches last minute win for Devils

Photos: Dave Williams/Helen Brabon/James Assinder

A Blair Riley goal inside the final minute gave Cardiff a regulation victory against a Fife Flyers side that perhaps deserved more than leaving Wales without a point.

Fife, who beat league-leaders Sheffield on Sunday, shocked the Viola arena when they took the lead on one of their first attacks of the game. Danick Gauthier’s shot on a 2-on-1 was saved by Ben Bowns but Paul Crowder was on hand to put home the rebound just 3:04 into the game. The Devils had the great possession and better scoring chances through the remainder of the opening period and most of the second but were unable to find a way past Adam Morrison who pulled off a string of excellent saves to keep the Flyers ahead.

16 seconds into period three the Flyers’ resistance was however broke as Joey Martin reacted quickest to a loose puck in front of Morrison. Mark Richardson started and finished a move that put the Devils ahead at 52:14 but with time ticking down the visitors forced their way back into the game. After winning an offensive zone faceoff, Paul Crowder was given too much space in front of Bowns' net and he calmly slotted home to level the scored with only 4:36 to play.

With the game looking like it was heading to overtime, a defensive mixup by the Flyers offered Blair Riley time to pick his spot to beat Morrison with just 49 seconds left and take the two points for the Devils - moving them up to within one of Sheffield.

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