Cardiff Devils Move To Within One Win Of League Title

Cardiff Devils spoiled a landmark evening for Latvian goalie Ervins Mustukovs – and moved to within one win of clinching the Elite League title for a second successive season.

Devils powered into a 4-0 lead within 25 minutes and Mustukovs – nicknamed the Moose – was replaced by back-up netminder Brad Day.

This was a 200th Sheffield appearance for Mustukovs and he was hoping for a big night in Cardiff Bay.

But Devils, beaten 5-2 in Sheffield only four days ago, came out hard and powered to a 6-3 victory.

They can now clinch the League title in Northern Ireland on Friday when they play Belfast Giants – or on Sunday when Steelers visit Ice Arena Wales.

Goalie Ben Bowns returned to the Cardiff Devils team after injury. Pic: Richard Murray.

Netminder Ben Bowns and defenceman Mark Louis returned for Devils after injuries, while Tyson Strachan served a one-match suspension.

Drew Paris was the player to be rested, allowing Louis to play.

Two goals by man of the match Gleason Fournier led Devils to victory and put them on the verge of retaining their League title.

Fournier opened the scoring after 22 seconds as the Devils came out of the blocks quickly and Joey Haddad made it 2-0 with a powerplay goal after 18 minutes.

Haddad turned provider 23 seconds into the second period, combining with Fournier to set up Joey Martin just 23 seconds and when Andrew Hotham added a fourth goal after 24-57 and Cardiff were in control.

Defenceman Mark Louis returned to action for Cardiff Devils. Pic: Richard Murray.

Steelers coach Paul Thompson took drastic action by withdrawing Mustukovs and sending out Huddersfield-born Brad Day to take over.

When Fournier took a delay of game penalty shortly after the Steelers were given the opportunity they needed and Mathieu Roy providing the finish.

A second power play goal from the Steelers 10 minutes later, scored by Ben O’Connor, threatened to break the game wide open, but the Devils replied with a powerplay goal of their own when Patrick Asselin fired past Day just eight seconds before the the second period break

Levi Nelson grabbed a third goal for the Steelers early in the third, but Fournier’s second of the night after 50-28 ensured Cardiff took both points.

Man of the match Gleason Fournier celebrates. Pic: Richard Murray.

There were two other matches played on Wednesday evening and head coach Adam Keefe returned to thrice. Giants were without Jim Vandermeer, Mark Garside, Jonathan Ferland, Dustin Johner and David Rutherford, but Keefe played and Belfast won 8-4 against Fife Flyers.

Wednesday night results: Fife Flyers 4, Belfast Giants 8; MK Lightning 4, Guildford Flames 5 (after sudden death overtime and penalties); Cardiff Devils 6, Sheffield Steelers 3.

Match stats: 

Period scores (Devils first): 2-0; 3-2 (5-2); 1-1 (6-3).

Shots on goal: Devils (on Mustukovs/Day) 14+14+10= 38; Steelers (on Bowns) 8+9+14=31.

Scorers, Devils: Gleason Fournier 2+1, Joey Martin 1+2, Joey Haddad 1+2, Andrew Hotham 1+2, Patrick Asselin 1+0, Sean Bentivoglio 0+3, Matthew Myers 0+1, Layne Ulmer 0+1.

Steelers: Mathieu Roy 1+0, Ben O’Connor 1+0, Levi Nelson 1+0, Eric Neiley 0+2, Jonas Westerling 0+1, Mark Matheson 0+1, Andreas Valdix 0+1, Robert Dowd 0+1.

Penalties: Cardiff Devils 31 minutes on 10 infractions Sheffield Steelers 25 minutes on 11 infractions

Penalties in minutes: Steelers 9+6+10= 25; Devils 5+10+16=31.

Powerplays: Devils 3/9; Steelers 2/6.

Attendance: 2,587

Referees: Mike Hicks and Tom Darnell.

Stars of the game: Stars, Eric Neiley; Devils, Gleason Fournier.

Devils travel to Belfast on Friday before finishing their season with four successive home matches.

Remaining Devils fixtures:

Friday 16 v Belfast Giants A (7pm)

Saturday 17 No game

Sunday 18 v Sheffield Steelers H (6pm)

Wednesday 21 v Manchester Storm H (7.30pm)

Saturday 24 v Belfast Giants H (7pm)

Sunday 25 v MK Lightning H (6pm)

CLICK HERE to book match online or call 0800 0842 666 to book via the phone.

ELITE LEAGUE STANDINGS

Regular 2017/18

Rk	Team	GP	W	L	OTL	SOL	WPCT	Pts
1	Cardiff Devils	51	38	10	1	2	.775	79
2	Manchester Storm	51	33	13	3	2	.696	71
3	Belfast Giants	51	32	17	2	0	.647	66
4	Fife Flyers	51	31	18	1	1	.627	64
5	Sheffield Steelers	51	30	18	2	1	.618	63
6	Guildford Flames	51	26	16	5	4	.598	61
7	Nottingham Panthers	50	28	18	2	2	.600	60
8	Braehead Clan	52	22	24	5	1	.481	50
9	Coventry Blaze	52	22	25	4	1	.471	49
10	Dundee Stars	51	22	25	3	1	.471	48
11	Milton Keynes Lightning	52	19	31	1	1	.385	40
12	Edinburgh Capitals	53	5	47	0	1	.104	11