Match Tickets
Cardiff Devils 4 - 2 Hull Stingrays
Faceoff: 19:00 - 24/09/11
Cardiff Devils produced a solid performance to beat Sylvain Cloutier's Hull Stingrays tonight, with goals from Brad voth, Ben Davies and 2 from Scott Dobben to gain him the man of the match.
In a scrappy start to the game, a strong forecheck from the Hull Stingrays prevented Cardiff from settling and it was the visitors who probably had the best of the opening exchanges. Though both teams created chances, neither really challenged the netminder until the 12 minute mark. Phil Hill ‘s shot bounced up over Christian Boucher in the Hull net off his shoulder and was slowly bobbling towards the goal until it was cleared off the line at the last moment by a Stingrays defenceman.
After a goal-less first period it needed a spark to get the game going, and Phil Hill duly obliged. A huge mid-ice check sent a Hull player flying and seconds later he and Stuart MacRae combined to get the puck to Brad Voth. In on goal, he waited for the netminder to commit himself before calmly rounding him and sliding the puck into the net (21:39).
The Devils had finally made the breakthrough and nearly doubled their lead moments later. This time it was Max Birbraer whose shot slipped through Boucher’s pads only to be once again cleared off the line by a diving Stingray.
Ten minutes later though and the Devils did make it 2-0. Ben Davies passed the puck in front of the net where Scott Dobben was diving to the ice to poke the puck goal-wards. Boucher made the initial save but the rebound popped back out and despite still being flat on the ice, Dobben had the time to twice swipe at the loose puck and force it over the line (35:04).
Cardiff looked to be cruising to victory but early in the third period the Stingrays got themselves back into the game. Dmitry Roden picked up the puck in his own zone and as he skated forward everyone backed off him, allowing him to hit a low shot along the ice and beat Stevie Lyle just inside the post (43:14).
When Max Birbraer was sent to the bin five minutes later the Stingrays must have sensed a possible equaliser, but it was the Devils who were to capitalise whilst short-handed. Josh Batch was able to force the puck out of the zone and down the ice, allowing the chasing Dobben to collect the puck along the boards, cut back inside before deking the netminder and firing it in off the post (48:06).
Dobben nearly completed his hat-trick when a bit of magic saw him get behind the Hull defence only for Boucher to deny him, but the Devils regained control of the puck and when Ben Davies was allowed to skate in front of the net unchallenged he had no problem sliding the puck under Boucher for a fourth Cardiff goal (55:37).
Jereme Tendler did score a second goal for Hull whilst on a 5-on-3 powerplay but the Devils were never really challenged after that and comfortably saw the rest of the game out for a 4-2 victory.
