Max Birbraer scored 1+4 as the Cardiff Devils cruised to victory over the Fife Flyers.

Before the game, the crowd observed a minute’s silence in memory of Wales Football Manager Gary Speed who passed away earlier in the day.

When the action got underway, it took Cardiff just four minutes to open the scoring. Stuart MacRae won the face off and after receiving the puck from Max Birbraer, Jeff Pierce weaved his way in and out of the Fife defence before lifting the puck high into the roof of the net.

Despite the Devils dominating the play that was to be the only goal of the opening period, thanks mainly to some outstanding saves from Fife netminder Garrett Zemlak. In fact, it wasn’t until the mid-point of the game that Cardiff finally made it 2-0. With Chris Frank sat in the bin, Max Birbraer and Stuart MacRae broke away and despite being hooked back, MacRae skated out in front of the net and his deflected shot bounced past Zemlak and into the net.

Slowly the Flyers had started creating chances of their own, and only a stunning save from Stevie Lyle stopped Mike Hamilton scoring on a breakaway.

Early in the final period though, Fife did get on the scoresheet when Matt Cohen picked up the puck in the slot and fired it into the top corner of the net.

The goal seemed to wake the Devils up and the Cardiff crowd finally got the goals they were expecting. Barely a minute after Cohen’s goal, Cardiff restored their two goal lead when Max Birbraer quickly fired through the defencemen’s legs after Pierce’s centered pass.

The two players then swapped roles to create a 4^th goal, a sweet reverse-pass from Birbraer set Pierce in on goal and he took his time to round the netminder before firing into the net.

With five minutes remaining, Scott Matzka flipped a pass inside to Sam Smith and although Zemlak managed to make the save, Matzka was first to the rebound and his quick back-hand shot flew into the net to complete the 5-1 victory.