Five-Star Cardiff Devils Too Hot For Nottingham Panthers

Cardiff Devils 5, Nottingham Panthers 0

Cardiff Devils powered to an emphatic victory against Nottingham Panthers in front of a 3,000-plus sell-out attendance at Ice Arena Wales.

Elite League leaders Devils outworked and outplayed Panthers on the same night second-placed Belfast Giants did the same to Sheffield Steelers in South Yorkshire.

Giants won 5-2 in Sheffield, while Devils had no mercy on an injury-hit Panthers.

“Devils were excellent,” said Nottingham coach Corey Neilson. “Our team is weary, but credit to Cardiff. They capitalised on our mistakes.”

Joey Haddad, Matthew Myers, Joey Martin, Patrick Asselin and Patrick Bordeleau scored for Devils against an injury-hit Nottingham team who could not resist the slick passing and movement of the home players.

Cardiff welcomed back David Brine from injury and Chris Culligan after he recovered from illness and they ran with a full complement of import players. Devils carry one extra import and it was goals ace Guillaume Doucet who was the healthy scratch, watching from the television gantry.

Player-coach Andrew Lord like dup with Martin and Sean Bentivoglio on the top line for Devils, while Asselin, Layne Ulmer and Haddad were a potent mix together.

Welsh forward Myers joined Jake Morissette and Culligan, while Bordeleau, Brine, Chris Jones and Luke Piggott were all given the ice time to ensure Devils rolled four genuine lines throughout.

Devils were excellent during the first period and led 3-0 after a 20-minute team display which Lord described as ‘among of our best this season’.

They maintained the pressure for the full hour and Panthers must have been relieved when their agony ended.

Two goals in 15 seconds, netted by Haddad and Myers, rocked Panthers and Martin soon added a third.

Miika Wiikman gave way to Czech netminder Jindrich Pacl in the Nottingham goal, but this was Cardiff’s night and Devils fans loved it.

Goalie Ben Bowns was named man of the match after keeping a 27-shot shut-out, while Layne Ulmer was outstanding for the home team and provided three assists.

Match stats:

Scorers, Devils: Joey Haddad 1+0, Matthew Myers 1+0, Joey Martin 1+0, Patrick Asselin 1+0, Patrick Bordeleau 1+0, Layne Ulmer 0+3, Gleason Fournier 0+1, Chris Culligan 0+1, Mark Richardson 0+1, Sean Bentivoglio 0+1, Mark Louis 0+1.

Period scores (Devils first): 3-0; 0-0 (3-9); 2-0 (5-0).

Shots on goal: Devils (on Wiikman/Pacl) 13+8+12=33; Panthers 7+10+10=27.

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

Powerplays: Devils 0/1; Panthers 0/2.

Referee: Jan Schmejkal.

Attendance: 3,088.

Men of the match: Devils, Ben Bowns; Panthers, Brian McGrattan.