Very entertaining game with both sides looking to attack and hope that they don’t need to do any proper defending.
Batch got an early goal with a shot through traffic from the point, but other than that the early exchanges were pretty even. Devils then got a PP with what looked a soft call, and after making it 2-0 hit a bit of a purple patch. Crandall made it 3-0 with a tip in front and the Devils should have made it 4-0 when the puck was loose by the post but the Cardiff players got in each others way and forced it wide.
Stars were desperate to get a goal before the end of the period and did just that, albeit in fortuitous circumstances. Crawford looked to be caught with a high hit but the referees allowed playe to carry on, leaving two Dundee players out in front and they combined to make it 3-1.
10 seconds into the second and a hopeful shot from the point found its way through Bowns and somehow the Stars were back within 1. The game was pretty much end to end for the next 10 minutes. Both netminders made big save, most notably Bowns from Valentini on a (3 on 0?) breakaway and also Carr on a Crandall breakaway. Stars arguably had the better chances but it was the Devils who scored next. Ben Davies were a great cross-ice pass that needed only a tap in from Busch. When Arniel tapped in Ully’s pass a minute later it looked like the Devils might start to run away with it, only for Dundee to get a goal back on the next shift when Johnson bounced one in off Bowns’ pad.
Stars had the better of the start of the 3rd period but as they seemingly started to tire, Wilde weaved his way through the Stars zone to make it 6-3 with less than 8 minutes to go. But the Stars still weren’t done and another Johnson goal from a ridiculous angle kept the game alive.
Stars bombarded Bowns’ net in the final minutes but after Carr was pulled, Crandall fired in the empty net goal from the red line to finally seal the win for the Devils.
No 4 for Dundee might be in a bit trouble though with DOPS. Clear hit to the head on Davies in the 1st that wasn’t called by the referees and led to the Brandt-Brittain fight. I can only assume tephey missed it because it was so late, but they could be looking at a ban for it.