Big Bad ‘Bordy’ Knocks Blaze Off Balance As Devils Storm Back To Win

Cardiff Devils 6, Coventry Blaze 4

Cardiff Devils fans chanted ‘We are number one’ after their team stormed back from two goals down to earn a dramatic Elite League victory at Ice Arena Wales.

A capacity attendance of more than 3,000 spectators watched the Devils fightback with Guillaume Doucet and man of the match Sean Bentivoglio scoring two goals each in the final period.

The game changing moments, though, came early in the third when 6ft 6ins Patrick Bordeleau smashed into two huge, clean hits and rattled Blaze. They also fired up the atmosphere within the arena.

Now League leaders Devils turn to their first fixture of 2017, against Dundee Stars at their Cardiff Bay rink on New Year;’s Day (4pm).

The first period ended 1-1 with both teams scoring on the powerplay.

Scott Hotham fired Devils ahead on three minutes 22 seconds with Jordan Pietrus making it 1-1 (56-36).

Captain Jake Morissette, David Brine and Joey Haddad were the starting line for Cardiff, followed by Sean Bentivoglio, Chris Culligan and Layne Ulmer.

Joey Martin, Guillaume Doucet and Patrick Asselin then linked up to go out third.

The defensive pairings were Gleason Fournier and Mark Louis, Andrew Hotham and Mark Richardson, Josh Batch and Scott Hotham.

Head coach Andrew Lord was again on the bench.

End of first: Devils 1, Blaze 1.

Blaze were on fire in the second and swept into a two-goal lead when they netted twice in less than a minute.

TJ Syner (26-27) and Marc Cantin (27-13) were the scorers and while Matthew Myers pulled one back (36-36) the visitors went into the second period break leading 4-2.

Barry Almeida (39-30) netted on the powerplay and left Devils with a lot to do in the final period.

End of second: Devils 2, Blaze 4.

Bordeleau fired things up in the third with two run crunching hits which sparked up the atmosphere immediately.

The arena had been flat with Devils losing, but big ‘Bordy’ had Blaze players fearing they would be his next target.

Only three minutes 17 seconds into the period Guillaume Doucet pulled a goal back, assisted by Scott Hotham and Gleason Fournier.

It was Doucet again, on 52-30, who tied the game up at 4-4, assisted by Chris Culligan.

Blaze were on the ropes and Bentivoglio finished them off with a beautifully worked goal on 56-19.

Layne Ulmer and Andrew Hotham set up the chance and Bentivoglio finished clinically.

Blaze pulled goalie Brian Stewart with more than a minute left and within 10 seconds they were another goal down.

Bentivoglio kept his composure to score an empty net goal with Andrew Hotham and Ulmer adding the assists.

End of third: Devils 6, Blaze 4

Match stats:

Scorers, Devils: Guillaume Doucet 2+0; Scott Hotham 1+0, Matthew Myers 1+0; Sean Bentivoglio 2+1; Mark Richardson 0+1; Joey Haddad 0+2; Scott Hotham 0+1; Gleason Fournier 0+1; Chris Culligan 0+1; Layne Ulmer 0+2; Andrew Hotham 0+2.

Blaze: Jordan Pietrus 1+1; TJ Syner 1+1; Marc Cantin 1+1; Barry Almeida 1+0; Ross Venus 0+1; Liam Stewart 0+1; Brett Robinson 0+1.

Period scores (Devils first): 1-1; 1-3 (2-4); 4-0 (6-4).

Shots on goals: Devils (on Stewart) 8+13+14=35; Blaze (on Bowns) 9+12+6=27

Penalties in minutes: Devils 6+6+2=14; Blaze 4+6+2=12.

Powerplays: Devils 1/2; Blaze 1/3.

Referee: Tom Darnell.

Stars of the game: Blaze, TJ Syner.