In a tense and close first period, Brad Voth was thrown out of the game for high-sticks after clashing with Kyle Bruce whilst on the powerplay. The resulting 4-on-3 powerplay gave the Devils the space to pass the puck around the Braehead zone, allowing Stuart MacRae to pick out the unmarked Jeff Pierce and he fired it past Suolalainen just inside the far post (18:00).

With Voth’s five minute penalty running into the next period it meant the Devils were now on the penalty-kill. Despite the man disadvantage, Max Birbraer quickly counter-attacked before dropping a pass back to Gerad Adams who ripped a shot from just inside the blue line and into the net (21:06).

Down to 8 imports, Cardiff had to re-jig their lines but were increasingly taking control of the game. At the midpoint of the game Mark Richardson got a pass through to Stuart MacRae and his early shot as he crossed the blue line caught the Clan netminder out as it flew in just under the crossbar (33:47).

3-0 quickly became 4-0 two minutes before the end of the second period. Even though his initial shot was saved by Suolalainen, Pierce’s persistence saw him win the puck back before rounding the netminder and slide it into the goal (38:32).

A holding call on Adams gave the Clan a powerplay at the start of the third period, and it looked like the Devils would successfully kill it until Ryan Campbell’s slapshot took a massive deflection off a Cardiff skate and snuck past Lyle into the far corner.

Cardiff’s four goal lead was soon restored though on a powerplay of their own. Taking their time to pass the puck around the zone, it eventually came to Richardson on the blue line and his slapshot flew into the net (44:56).

With ten minutes remaining Joe Myers replaced Lyle in the Cardiff net, and although he was beaten by Jordan Krestanovich after a mad scramble, the Devils never looked in danger of letting the lead slip and cruised to a 5-2 victory.