Cardiff Devils Set Up Second Leg Cup Cracker

Cardiff Devils returned from Surrey with hopes of winning the Challenge Cup for a third time in four years alive and kicking.

Devils drew 3-3 against Guildford Flames at the Spectrum in their quarter-final first leg.

The return is at Ice Arena Wales on Wednesday, January 10 and the winners will play Sheffield Steelers in the last four.

Mark Louis returned to the Devils team after injury, but Andrew Hotham had to be held off the ice after the game ended.

There were scuffles in front of the Cardiff net in the final few seconds after Hotham was left down on the ice.

Sean Bentivoglio, Matthew Myers and Drew Paris, with his fourth Challenge Cup goal this season, scored for Devils, who led 2-0 after the first period and 3-1 going into the third.

Flames fought back to give themselves renewed hope for the return game in Cardiff Bay.

Player-Coach Andrew Lord was on the bench for this game, while Paul Crowder, Josh Batch and Craig Moore were ruled out because of injuries.

Bentivoglio opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal (14-33) and Myers added the second (16-48).

Flames celebrated when the puck went past goalie Ben Bowns on the powerplay, but that effort was ruled out after the referees reviewed video replays.

Defenceman Mark Louis returned to the team after injury.

Less than a minute later Brett Ferguson (33-11) fired home for Flames only one second after that home powerplay had ended.

Paris struck after 38 minutes 52 seconds to put Devils 3-1 ahead and in command, but Ian Watters (50-47) scored on a powerplay and Jez Lundin completed the scoring (52-13) to leave the teams level at the halfway stage in this cup clash.

The next test for Devils is against Braehead Clan in Glasgow on Friday evening, while they are at home against Dundee Stars on Sunday (6pm).

Match stats:

Scorers, Flames: Brett Ferguson 1+0, Ian Watters 1+0, Jeremy Lundin 1+0, Liam Stewart 0+1, Carl Ackered 0+1, John Dunbar 0+1, Jesse Craige 0+2, Ian Watters 0+1.

Devils: Sean Bentivoglio 1+0 (sh), Matthew Myers 1+0, Drew Paris 1+0, Joey Martin 0+3, Matt Pope 0+1, Jake Morissette 0+1.

Period scores (Flames first): 0-2; 1-1 (1-3);

Penalties in minutes: Flames 2+2+4=8; Devils 8+2+2=12.

Powerplays: Flames 1/7; Devils 0/4.

Stars of the game: Flames, Liam Stewart; Devils, Joey Martin.

Referees: Stefan Hogarth, Jan Schemjkial.

Attendance: 1,453.