Despite outshooting Cardiff Devils by a 29-16 count, the visiting Welsh side scored early and never trailed during a 5-3 Cup win over the Flames on Spectrum ice.
Cole Sanford inside the 4 minute mark on a powerplay set Devils to a lead. Sam Talbot levelled at 11:4., but Jamie Arniel immediately put the visitors back in front 14 seconds later and they saw the period out still with that slim edge.
At 29:40, Brandon Alderson extended their margin to a pair. A Ryan Hughes reply just 36 seconds after that returned Spectrum’s men to a goal off the pace, but Devils gained it back late in the 2nd with another Sanford strike on the powerplay 57 seconds from period time.
A 53rd minute Alderson powerplay goal made it a 5-2 difference before Ryan Tait on a late Flames powerplay pulled it a little closer without changing the final result.
Taz Burman made 11 saves on 16 shots and Ben Bowns was 23 of 26.
“A bit of a 1 step forward 2 steps back feeling right now after that game,” said Paul Dixon, “and more frustration after how we did on Sunday against Coventry.”
“On the plus side we had a more that a fair share of the play and puck possession, but we were not as energetic and urgent about things as we should have been so between that and some penalty killing issues there are things we know we can fix.”
“Having said that, talking about it doesn’t do much so we have to put action to some of these thoughts.”
“We don’t have any quitters in our room so I know they will be back on the ice tomorrow looking for ways to change their fortunes come the weekend and we will see how we get on.”
