19 Mar 2023, 16:00 | Regular season | SSE Arena Belfast |
Belfast Giants | 4-5 OT | Cardiff Devils |
Periods: Shots: | 1-3 (9-10) | 2-0 (18-4) | 1-1 (11-8) | 0-1 (1-2) | Total: 39-24 |
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Referees: Wells/Hogarth  |  Spectators: 6250 |
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Goals and assists
Cardiff Devils kept themselves mathematically in the league title
race with an overtime victory in Belfast after the Giants fought back
from 3-1 and 4-3 down to earn a point in an excellent game at the SSE
Arena.
The goals came thick and fast in the opening period after
which it was the Devils who held a two-goal lead. Sam Jardine pinched
into the play and was on hand to tap home a rebound from a Justin
Crandall shot in front of Tyler Beskorowany's net with just 71 seconds
played, before Josh Waller took the shot instead of passing on a 2-on-1
rush and sniped a shot past Beskorowany ay 6:31. 26 seconds later, Matt
McLeod beat Ben Bows through the five-hole to get the Giants on the
board, but as the game went run and gun Crandall finished with a neat
move on Beskorowany on the rush to put the Devils 3-1 up at 8:07.
Cardiff
thought they'd gone 4-1 ahead not long later, but the goal was washed
out on video review for a high stick, after which the odd-man rushes
became more limited and the game calmed down somewhat. The Devils ended
the period ahead, but it could have been more as they went 0 for 3 on
the powerplay.
Cardiff saw a Will Cullen tripping penalty pass off
without a goal as they soaked up Giants pressure and looked dangerous
on the break. However, the home side's chances were getting better and
it was no surprise when Steve Owre beat Bowns in front to get the Giants
back to within one. Trevor Cox was binned for charging before Joey
Martin took a slashing call 1:38 later to set the Giants up for a 5-on-3
advantage, and although the Devils got through the first penalty they
struggled to get a line change and were eventually punished by Mark
Cooper on a rebound. Prior to the goal, Ben Bowns slide across his
crease to make one of the saves of the season as he did his best to keep
the Giants at bay on multiple occasions in period two.
Trevor Cox
hit the crossbar on a rush with the Devils' best chance early in period
three but the visitors were back in the lead with just under 10 minutes
to go - Brodie Reid worked the puck to Jake Coughler in the slot who
beat Beskorowany with a patient move at 50:44. The Devils could only
hold that lead for just over two minutes, though. After a scramble
around the crease, Scott Conway was in the perfect position to put the
loose puck past Bowns to tie the game at 52:40.
Both teams had
chances as regulation drew to a close, but they each hold on for the
point and the game went into overtime. Beskorowany was given a tripping
penalty 2:23 into overtime which put the Devils on another powerplay,
and this time they got the job done as tic-tac-toe passing set up Cole
Sanford for a rocket one-timer to win it for Cardiff.