Georgs’ Latvian Lightning Strike Sends Devils Crashing

Milton Keynes Lightning had a late shock for Cardiff Devils at the Viola Arena.

Devils outshot their visitors 44-25, but they were denied by goaltender Patrick Killeen.

Charles Linglet and man of the match Joey Haddad scored for Devils, who led twice and had a Bryce Reddick ‘goal’ disallowed.

Lightning are bottom of Elite League, but they are playing with commitment and intensity under the club’s new coaching team, Tim Wallace and Ryan Lannon.

http://https://youtu.be/D7xcM-HaRcY

Latvian international Georgs Golovkovs, aged 23, shot down Cardiff, tying the game at 2-2 when he netted in the last minute after Lightning had pulled goalie Killeen in favour of an extra skater.

Then the Riga-born centre fired his second – and MK’s winner – three minutes 44 seconds into overtime.

Devils earned one League point because the score was 2-2 after regulation time, while Lightning earned two points.

The lone goal of the opening period came off a pass by Linglet, who was behind the goal. The puck somehow deflected off a Lightning defender and flew past netminder Patrick Killeen to make it 1-0 at the 14-41 mark of the game.

Eight minutes into the middle period and Devils were celebrating again when the puck went past Killeen, effort was disallowed with the referee ruling that Reddick was in the crease and the score stayed at 1-0 after 40 minutes.

http://https://youtu.be/QhFbo8INqL4

Lightning tied the game with a powerplay goal on 41-36 into the third period, courtesy of Robbie Baillargeon. Devils took the lead again with a powerplay marker of their own from Haddad with a bullet from the blueline to make it 2-1 after 45-39. 

Devils looked favourites to hold on, but then came Lightning’s Latvian double with Golovkovs blasting the puck through traffic and past Bowns.

Devils still controlled the majority of play in overtime, but they couldn’t find a way past Killeen and with one minute 16 second left to play Golovkovs came up with the winner.

Match stats:

Scorers, Devils: Charlies Linglet 1+1, Joey Haddad 1+0, Drew Schiestel 0+1, Bryce Reddick 0+1, Mike Hedden 0+1.

Lightning: Georgs Golovkovs 2+0, Robbie Baillargeon 1+0, Clay Anderson 0+1, Andreas Valide 0+1, David Norris 0+1.

Period scores (Devils first): 1-0, 0-0 (1-0), 1-2 (2-2), 0-1 (2-3).

Shots on goal: Devils (on Killeen) 16+14+10+4=44; Lightning (on Bowns) 8+6+9+2=25.

Penalties in minutes: Devils 0+2+4=6; Lightning 2+4+4=10.

Special teams: Devils PK 2/3, PP 1/5; Lightning PK 4/5, Lightning 1/3.

Stars of the game: Devils, Joey Haddad; Lightning, Georgs Golovkovs.

http://https://youtu.be/Mw0wGV9dbYU

Sunday results: Sheffield Steelers 4, Manchester Storm 1; Cardiff Devils 2, Milton Keynes Lightning 3; Guildford Flames 1, Belfast Giants 4; Fife Flyers 3, Dundee Stars 4 (after overtime and penalties), 

ELITE ICE HOCKEY LEAGUE 2018/19

TEAM	GP	W	L	OTL	PTS	PCT	GF	GA	PIM	STREAK
Belfast Giants	21	17	4	0	34	.810	83	40	304	9-0
Cardiff Devils	20	14	4	2	30	.750	81	55	217	0-1
Nottingham Panthers	23	13	7	3	29	.630	66	67	392	2-0
Fife Flyers	22	12	6	4	28	.636	78	70	315	0-5
Guildford Flames	20	12	8	0	24	.600	69	56	281	0-1
Sheffield Steelers	22	11	11	0	22	.500	69	74	347	4-0
Coventry Blaze	19	8	7	4	20	.526	63	68	266	0-3
Glasgow Clan	19	9	9	1	19	.500	56	66	260	0-1
Manchester Storm	21	8	11	2	18	.429	57	74	646	0-3
Dundee Stars	20	4	9	7	15	.375	48	73	242	2-0
Milton Keynes Lightning	21	6	13	2	14	.333	50	77	485	1-0