Cardiff Devils 5 - 3 Hull Stingrays

Faceoff: 18:30 - 26/02/12

Devils bounced back from their loss in Nottingham on Saturday night to take the home points against Stingrays with Scott Matzka starring with a hat trick.

A third straight home win for the Welsh side but not a good weekend for Stingrays as they shipped 13 goals and continue to look at Edinburgh and Dundee as a serious threat to their Play-Off spot.

It was the visitors who took the first period lead at 7.44 thanks to a goal by Jason Silverthorn but on the powerplay Devils restored equality at 13.15 with Matzka’s first of the night.

A strike by Matzka only 44 seconds into the second session gave Devils the lead and although it took some time they increased their lead at 37.18 with player/coach Gerad Adams on target.

Stingrays were right back in the game at 44.54 as their own player/coach Sylvain Cloutier led by example but that was as close as the visitors were to get as a couple of Devils goals in 16 seconds sealed it. Jeff Pierce was first on the mark at 50.04 and at 50.20 Matzka completed his treble.

The visitors did score the final goal of the night from Dominic Osman at 56.00 but it was too little too late as the points stayed in the big blue tent.

Period Scores: 1-1, 2-0, 2-2
Penalty Mins: Car 20 – Hul 30
Powerplay: Car 2/4 – Hul 1/4
Shots On: Stevie Lyle 21 – Christian Boucher 53
Referee: Dean Smith