Another cracking game between the Devils and the Blaze in the Tent.
After collapsing in the first period of the last game, the Blaze has obviously been told not to do the same thing this time and started the game on fire. Passing the puck with speed and accuracy the Devils struggled to get near them.
It has to be said the Devils were also poor, seemed to be playing too defensively and other than Michel and the ever-improving Symonds were not hitting the Blaze players and being nasty enough.
Blaze took the lead on a quick counter-attack, Fulghum's initial shot from long range seemed to be held by Lyle, but as he skated in on Lyle he swung at it again and the puck flew into the net. From those who had a better view of the goal they said Lyle dropped it and Fulghum simply tapped it through his five-hole.
Devils 0-1 Blaze
Although the Blaze were dominating the game they weren't really creating that many clear cut chances. A big mid-ice hit from Birbraer seemed to kick the Devils into action, and with 5 minutes of the period left they finally started to create some chances. With two minutes to go the Blaze cleared the puck into the Devils zone, Birbraer picked it up and the for some reason when under no pressure banged it against the boards straight to a Blaze player, who passed it around quickly to give Greg Owen a simple tap-in into the half empty net.
Devils 0-2 Blaze
Up until this point referee Darnell had let everything go and not called a single penalty - even though several players on both sides should have been sent to the bin. In the final minute Miller lays off the puck and skated behind the net looking for the return. Lee grabs him around the neck and throws him to the ice (IMO quite dangerously). Darnell shakes his head.
With Miller still on the ice Latulippe goes up to Lee and gives him a shove in the chest, and he gets one back. Miller then gets back up and tries to start a fight with Lee, but before either of them can throw any punches Miller falls back down to the ice.
Latulippe gets 2 minutes for roughing.
Miller gets 2 minutes for roughing. And 2 minutes for Goalie Inteference (which I totally missed ?!?!?!??!?)
Lee gets 2 minutes for roughing. Nothing for the headlock but 2 minutes for tripping (which again I totally missed?!?!?!?!?)
Into the second period and the Devils come out a different team, hitting everything in sight and playing with the intensity that was totally lacking from the first period. After all his bad luck in the previous two games, Hirsch was getting all his good luck in one period. Though he was making some excellent saves he was also making a couple with his pads whilst looking the other way, not having a clue where the puck was.
Had the Devils been a bit more accurate they could have taken the lead within the first 10 minutes of the period as several shots whistled past the post. Fortunately for the Devils Hirsch undid all his good work with a moment of madness. After charging out of his net to play the puck in the corner he lost the puck and charged back towards goal. Latulippe had now taken up position just outside the crease and instead of go around him, Hirsch cross-checked Jay in the head and into the net.
From the resulting powerplay the Devils passed the puck around well, Michel spotting Jarvis in space and he fired past Hirsch.
Devils 1-2 Blaze.
From this point on, it was all the Devils and in my view the Blaze never looked like scoring again.
Into the final period, and 5 minutes in Owen was called for a soft trip just seconds after a more blantant trip by Hirsch had been ignored. Whilst on the powerplay, a delayed penalty was called on Robinson for a cross-check, but instead of the Devils shooting the puck to get a 5-on-3 they continued to pass it around. Owen's penalty expired with the delayed call still in progress, and finally when Latulippe picked it up on the blueline he picked out Hill who diverted it into the far corner.
Devils 2-2 Blaze
Again the Devils looked like the only side likely to score again, and it was a case of whether they would get the win in regulation or overtime. With 6 minutes remaining Voth was called for Boarding which seemed harsh. Blaze didn't take their chance though and as Voth came out of the box he was spotted by Latulippe and fed the puck. Breaking down the right wing with a 2-on-1 break he took his time before passing to Birbraer who one timed it into the net.
Devils 3-2 Blaze
In those final 4 minutes the Devils continued to press forward and were unlucky not to add a 4th. Blaze looked like they didn't believe they would score an equaliser and I can't remember them creating a single decent chance as the Devils forechecked well and saw out the remaining minutes comfortably.
Great comeback for the Devils, the first period was worrying but if we can play every game like we did the last 40 we will be very tough to beat. Not sure what went wrong with the Blaze - they looked great in the first period and deserved the league's top spot. I don't know whether they felt they had done enough to win but from the second period on they looked pretty average and low on confidence.
MOTM could have been anyone from several Devils players. Michel once again gave 100% every shift, Latulippe had his best game in a long time and had a say in all 3 goals. Also a mention for Birbraer who has been attracting some criticism lately and had his best two periods in a long time and was almost unplayable at times.
