‘Mad Dog’ ShutOut, While Toms Man Of Match

Cardiff Devils completed their Challenge Cup group fixtures with a 4-0 away win against Coventry Blaze at the SkyDome.

Latvian-born Toms Rutkis was man of the match after returning 1+1, while Layne Ulmer finished with 2+1.

Netminder Thomas ‘Mad Dog’ Murdy was another man of the match contender, keeping a shutout by making 34 saves.

The teams were playing for pride with Devils already group winners, while Blaze are bottom and out of the competition.

Devils have qualified for the quarter-finals seeded second behind Belfast Giants, missing out on top spot because they lost 5-3 against Guildford at home on Saturday.

Toms Rutkis.

That means Giants can select who they want to play from the four lower seeds and Devils have second pick.

Rutkis opened the scoring against Blaze after six minutes 58 seconds of the first period when he banged home a rebound after shaking off a D-man to pounce on the loose puck with Ben Blood and Ulmer picking up assists.

Mike Hedden doubled the lead 59 seconds into the middle period with Stephen Dixon and Mark Richardson assisting.

Ulmer scored twice in the final period. He tipped Bryce Reddick’s shot and then he span off a defenceman to hammer home a loose puck.

New signing Sam Duggan, a 20-year-old British forward, made his first professional league appearance.

Cardiff Devils forward Layne Ulmer. Pic: Dave Williams.

Match stats

Scorers, Devils: Layne Ulmer 2+1, Toms Rutkis 1+1, Mike Hedden 1+0, Stephen Dixon 0+1, Mark Richardson 0+1, Bryce Reddick 0+1, Matt Pope 0+1.

Period scores (Blaze first): 0-1; 0-0 (0-1); 0-3 (0-4)

Shots on goal: Blaze (on Murdy) 10+14+0=24; Devils (on Hedley) 8+11+3=

Penalties in minutes: Blaze 0+2+2=4; Devils 4+2+4=10.

Special teams: Blaze PK 2/2; PP 0/6; Devils PK 6/6; PP 0/2

Referee: Matt Thompson and Tom Pering

http://https://youtu.be/_B8CO5lnz98

Remaining Cup group fixtures: 

Friday, November 2: Nottingham Panthers v Manchester Storm

Saturday, November 4: Guildford Flames v MK Lightning

Fixtures this week:

Wednesday, October 31: Glasgow Clan v Cardiff Devils (7.30pm), Sheffield Steelers v Coventry Blaze (7.30pm).

Friday, November 2: Fife Flyers v Belfast Giants (7.30pm), Nottingham Panthers v Manchester Storm (7.30pm).

CHALLENGE CUP GROUP A

TEAM	GP	W	L	OTL	PTS	PCT	GF	GA	PIM	STREAK
Sheffield Steelers	4	2	1	1	5	.625	9	11	35	2-0
Manchester Storm	3	2	1	0	4	.667	8	7	26	1-0
Nottingham Panthers	3	1	1	1	3	.500	10	9	58	0-2

CHALLENGE CUP GROUP B

FIFE ELIMINATED Remaining teams re-seeded with v. Fife fixtures removed

TEAM	GP	W	L	OTL	PTS	PCT	GF	GA	PIM
Belfast Giants	4	4	0	0	8	1.000	18	10	61
Dundee Stars	4	1	3	1	3	.250	9	14	33
Glasgow Clan	4	1	3	0	2	.250	13	16	38

CHALLENGE CUP GROUP C

TEAM	GP	W	L	OTL	PTS	PCT	GF	GA	PIM	STREAK
Cardiff Devils	6	5	1	0	10	0.833	31	13	44	1-0
Guildford Flames	5	3	2	0	6	.600	19	14	34	1-0
Milton Keynes Lightning	5	2	3	0	4	.400	13	25	56	1-0
Coventry Blaze	6	1	5	0	2	.167	8	19	56	0-4

Sunday results:

Nottingham Panthers 2, Belfast Giants 3 (overtime)

Belfast Giants came from two in the final period to force OT and win.

Brett Perlini and Dylan Olsen fired Panthers two ahead, while Darcy Murphy and Dustin Johner replied.

It was Murphy who fired overtime the winner on 63-40.

Guildford Flames 4 Manchester Storm 0

Flames extended their winning streak to four games in all competitions.

Kevin King (2), Kruise Reddick and a shorthanded TJ Foster goal led the way.

Fife Flyers 4, MK Lightning 1

Lightning led 1-0 going into the final period, but finished their triple header trip to Scotland with a third defeat.

They earned one point from three fixtures.

Andreas Valdix scored at 28-28, while Paul Crowder (40-45) and Mike Cazzola (41-20) turned the game around while Marcus Basara and Carlo Finucci completed a 4-1 win.

The  next home match for Devils is against Coventry Blaze in Elite League this Saturday.

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