Wow. What a game.
Panthers started the game brilliantly, outskating and outworking the Devils. Lyle had already made a couple of good saves before Mann shrugged off the challenge from Stone to skate out from the boards and fire past Lyle.
This continued with Lyle being the only one stopping the Panthers destroying us. After around 5 minutes they passed the puck across the crease, McAslan was waiting at the far post, it hit his skate and went in. Dean Smith immediately ruled the goal out for man in the crease. As Sammi said, McAslan went nuts and had to be restrained by the linesmen - it looked the correct call to me - he had to be in the crease for it to hit his skate to go in.
After this initial 5 minutes the Panthers should have been several goals ahead, but then the game changed on two incidents.
Firstly, the superb Tyler Michel nailed Dagleish into the boards. Dagliesh took exception to it and they both dropped the gloves, though I don't think many punches were thrown. Michel got an extra 2 minutes for elbows, though the replay suggested it was a harsh call.
The check did the trick though, as it woke up the Devils crowd that had been very quiet and shocked at how we were being over run. It also fired his teammates into action.
Devils killed the powerplay and grew in confidence. During this, Latulippe started winding Richardson up, mouthing off to him and generally being a nuisance. Eventually Richardson snapped and drew the penalty that Jay had been after. Levers then gave away a silly high-sticking penalty, and with the Devils having a 5-on-3 Mark Smith gave Jarvis the puck, and he skated in on goal and fired past the Panthers netminder for the equaliser.
The game had woken up and in the space of about 10 seconds saw 5 massive checks. One of which almost knocked out Towe (not sure who it was but it looked clean and superb) and led to the Panthers fans chanting "Show us the replay". I think they went on to regret that chant for the rest of the game....
Anyway, after Michel nails another player, Mann checks him back to the ice and then as Michel tries to get back up cross-checks him in the back. Right infront of Smith. Duh!
Another Devils powerplay, and when St Pierre can't hold Romfo's shot, Miller brilliantly dives and back-hands the midair puck into the net. 2-1 Devils and the game is shifting in favour of the Devils.
Panthers start the second period on the powerplay, but a mixup gifts Michel the puck, who skates in on St Pierre and shoots. It looks like the netminder has made the glove save, but the puck falls out of his catcher and trickles over the line.
Devils 3-1 Panthers.
St Pierre seems to be losing it and the Panthers are still in shock. With 26 minutes gone the Devils have a 2-on-1 break. Miller has the puck down the left wing, and looks up ready to pass it to his teammate. Doing so, he notices that St Pierre is already anticipating the pass and has left a gap on the near post the size of the Suez Canal. Miller shoots and scores the easiest goal he is every likely to score. Heck - I reckon I could have scored from my seat the gap was that big.
With the Devils in control the Panthers continue to take daft penalties and with only a minute left of the second give the Devils another 5-on-3 powerplay. Jarvis gets the puck to Smith in the slot, and his shot takes a deflection off Voth's stick and goes in off the crossbar.
Devils 5-1 Panthers.
I think to most people it looked like Smith scored, but he pointed to Voth straight away as the players went to him to celebrate, to give his teammate the credit. A sign that team morale must be excellent.
Devils started the third period on the remainder of the 5-on-4 powerplay and after another defensive mess gifted the puck to Birbraer in the zone, he fired it through yet another huuuuuuge gap on St Pierre's near post.
Devils 6-1 Panthers. Game won. Voth then didn't ice for the rest of the game and Smith also was allowed to rest up having just come back from injury. Hayes and Davies took their place, with Ben Davies once again showing why he is the best 10th forward in the league. He is so good at winning the puck in the corner and passing it out infront of the net - his teammates just need to learn to expect it.
The intensity of the game slowly died out and Panthers got a second on the powerplay thanks to an excellent one-time slapshot from Clarke.
Final Score Devils 6-2 Panthers.
For the Devils, Michel was excellent once again and Miller had his best game since the pre-season game against Coventry. Smithy and Birbraer looked to be getting back to their best whilst Latulippe was doing his job of winding up the opposition and putting them off their game.
As good as the Devils played, I do feel the scoreline flattered us a bit. Their were periods of play were the Panthers dominated and created lots of chances. IMO the difference between the teams was the netminders. St Pierre made several bad mistakes whilst Lyle was outstanding and a well deserved MOTM. He won us that game in the first period when the Panthers were all over us, and continued to make great saves throughout the game.
