Devils 6-3 Blaze
28th Dec 2009 | Posted by Mark Finn
Another good game in the Tent with a crowd that wasn't far from capacity, with two teams who were desperate to win because they clearly don't like each other.
5-on-5 the Devils were the better side throughout the game. Hicks did his best to even it up by calling some soft penalties on the Devils whilst ignoring some blooming obvious calls against the Blaze.
Michel was sent to the bin within a minute of the start of the game for a Charging call which was probably fair. No sooner had the Devils killed it off but Adams was sent to the bin for the same call. It looked harsh, Adams didn't appear to take more than a step nor lift his feet. Voth offered out Campbell but he declined.
Once again the Devils killed off the penalty, and on the very next shift broke the deadlock. Blaze won the face-off in their own zone and the puck went into the corner. The Blaze defenceman (Weaver?) attempted to clear the puck cross-ice - but got his angles wrong. The pass hit Hirsch's skate, then his other skate, and then slowly crept over the line.
Devils 1-0 Blaze.
Goal credited to Smith as he was the player at the face-off.
Voth and Campbell must then have agreed to fight at the next face-off, and as soon as the puck was dropped they dropped their gloves too. Comprehensive win for Voth - on watching the replay I'm not sure Campbell threw a single punch that connected.
Whoever's decision it was to fight - it definately worked in the Devils favour. Campbell was very quiet for the rest of the game and it gave the Devils all the momentum.
A minute later and Birbraer burst through the Blaze defence. He passed it on to Finnerty, who waited until Jarvis had joined the attack and passed it across the ice. Jarvis was unmarked and fired it through Hirsch's 5-hole.
Devils 2-0 Blaze
The Cardiff onslaught was temporary haulted after Finnerty was sent to the bin for another soft Hooking call. Once again though the Devils killed the penalty well.
Back to full strength and the Devils started to dominate again. When the puck was dumped into the Blaze zone it looked like Finnerty was chasing a lost cause. Somehow though he stole the puck off the Blaze Dman, looked up and passed it to Hill infront of the net, who after taking a touch to control it fired it past Hirsch and inside the post.
Devils 3-0 Blaze
Less than a minute later and it looked game over. Smith and Birbraer combining to setup Michel who fired it over Hirsh's shoulder and into the top corner.
Devils 4-0 Blaze
It was nearly 5-0, when that line of Birbraer-Smith-Michel once again linked up to create an almost identical chance for Michel, but this time he fired just over the crossbar.
Shortly after, Jarvis clashed with a Blaze forward and gave him a punch in the face. Hicks called the penalty, but straight away Stewart charged across the ice to fight Jarvis. To be honest neither player got a punch away that I saw, both recieving 5 minutes though with Stewart an additional 2+10 for instigating.
It did seem to lif Coventry though and with 5 minutes of the period left, the Blaze finally got back into the game. Breaking down a Devils attack, the puck bounced out kindly gifting the Blaze a 3-on-1 break. Chambers broke down the wing and although Lyle stopped his initial shot the puck fell kindly again to Fulghum and he tapped into the the unguarded net.
Devils 4-1 Blaze
The goal seemed to break the Devils concentration and within a minute the Blaze had scored again. Breaking into the zone with a hint of offside, Calder's initial shot was again saved by Lyle but once again the rebound fell to a Coventry player and Cowley tapped in the rebound.
Devils 4-2 Blaze
End of an eventful 1st period.
Though the rest of the game lacked the scoring free-for-all of the first, the intensity remained.
As Voth attempted to power through the Blaze defence, he was punched in the face by Lee. Similar to the Jarvis incident, only this time Lee used both fists yet Hicks called nothing. Voth went after Lee and the two fought, Voth probably getting the better but also 2+10 for instigating for his troubles.
After the Devils killed off another penalty, the Blaze started to run into penalty trouble of their own. First Lee was called for an daft cross-check off the puck, then on the penalty kill Watkins fired the puck over the plexi for a delay of game call.
Devils took advantage of the 5-on-3, passing it around until they had made enough space for Jarvis to skate in on the net and fire past the massive gap on Hirsch's near post.
Devils 5-2 Blaze
Into the third period and the Devils got back into penalty trouble themselves. Hicks looked to be letting things to after ignoring a blatant trip on Smith as he went through on goal. 10 seconds later though and with the Blaze counter-attacking Hartwick was called for a soft Holding call.
The Devils had killed penalties well all day, but when the puck bounced up into the air, Jarvis seemed to collect it in his folded arms/shirt and help it back to Lyle. Hicks called him for Delay of Game, and straight from the face off the Blaze needed just 8 seconds of the 5-on-3 to score - Calder passing across ice to Fulghum infront of the net and his first-time shot beat Lyle.
Devils 5-3 Blaze
Back to a two goal game and when Birbraer was called for tripping after several other infractions went unpunished, it looked like the Blaze might get back into the game only for the Devils PK to work well again.
With 10 minutes to go the Devils had their own PP chance to seal the win, but the Blaze PK well and actually created more chances themselves.
With two minutes to go though Jarvis broke down another Blaze attack, the loose puck falling to Miller and he spotted Finnerty free. Finnerty broke away and scored, though I have to be honest and say I'm not sure how it went in. My first impressions was that it hit the post, bounced back and went in off Hirsch's skate but I couldn't see the replay clearly.
Devils 6-3 Blaze
Game as good as over and even the Blaze seemed to admit defeat as those final two minutes passed without further incident.
Jarvis got man of the match for the Devils, but it could have been anyone of several. Hartwick broke down attack after attack as did Richardson.
My man of the match though would have been Finnerty. I always though of him as a grinder and hardworker for the Steelers. He is, but I never appreciated his passing ability and reading of the game. He's been the best player for the Devils since he signed for us and a great addition to the team.
5-on-5 the Devils were the better side throughout the game. Hicks did his best to even it up by calling some soft penalties on the Devils whilst ignoring some blooming obvious calls against the Blaze.
Michel was sent to the bin within a minute of the start of the game for a Charging call which was probably fair. No sooner had the Devils killed it off but Adams was sent to the bin for the same call. It looked harsh, Adams didn't appear to take more than a step nor lift his feet. Voth offered out Campbell but he declined.
Once again the Devils killed off the penalty, and on the very next shift broke the deadlock. Blaze won the face-off in their own zone and the puck went into the corner. The Blaze defenceman (Weaver?) attempted to clear the puck cross-ice - but got his angles wrong. The pass hit Hirsch's skate, then his other skate, and then slowly crept over the line.
Devils 1-0 Blaze.
Goal credited to Smith as he was the player at the face-off.
Voth and Campbell must then have agreed to fight at the next face-off, and as soon as the puck was dropped they dropped their gloves too. Comprehensive win for Voth - on watching the replay I'm not sure Campbell threw a single punch that connected.
Whoever's decision it was to fight - it definately worked in the Devils favour. Campbell was very quiet for the rest of the game and it gave the Devils all the momentum.
A minute later and Birbraer burst through the Blaze defence. He passed it on to Finnerty, who waited until Jarvis had joined the attack and passed it across the ice. Jarvis was unmarked and fired it through Hirsch's 5-hole.
Devils 2-0 Blaze
The Cardiff onslaught was temporary haulted after Finnerty was sent to the bin for another soft Hooking call. Once again though the Devils killed the penalty well.
Back to full strength and the Devils started to dominate again. When the puck was dumped into the Blaze zone it looked like Finnerty was chasing a lost cause. Somehow though he stole the puck off the Blaze Dman, looked up and passed it to Hill infront of the net, who after taking a touch to control it fired it past Hirsch and inside the post.
Devils 3-0 Blaze
Less than a minute later and it looked game over. Smith and Birbraer combining to setup Michel who fired it over Hirsh's shoulder and into the top corner.
Devils 4-0 Blaze
It was nearly 5-0, when that line of Birbraer-Smith-Michel once again linked up to create an almost identical chance for Michel, but this time he fired just over the crossbar.
Shortly after, Jarvis clashed with a Blaze forward and gave him a punch in the face. Hicks called the penalty, but straight away Stewart charged across the ice to fight Jarvis. To be honest neither player got a punch away that I saw, both recieving 5 minutes though with Stewart an additional 2+10 for instigating.
It did seem to lif Coventry though and with 5 minutes of the period left, the Blaze finally got back into the game. Breaking down a Devils attack, the puck bounced out kindly gifting the Blaze a 3-on-1 break. Chambers broke down the wing and although Lyle stopped his initial shot the puck fell kindly again to Fulghum and he tapped into the the unguarded net.
Devils 4-1 Blaze
The goal seemed to break the Devils concentration and within a minute the Blaze had scored again. Breaking into the zone with a hint of offside, Calder's initial shot was again saved by Lyle but once again the rebound fell to a Coventry player and Cowley tapped in the rebound.
Devils 4-2 Blaze
End of an eventful 1st period.
Though the rest of the game lacked the scoring free-for-all of the first, the intensity remained.
As Voth attempted to power through the Blaze defence, he was punched in the face by Lee. Similar to the Jarvis incident, only this time Lee used both fists yet Hicks called nothing. Voth went after Lee and the two fought, Voth probably getting the better but also 2+10 for instigating for his troubles.
After the Devils killed off another penalty, the Blaze started to run into penalty trouble of their own. First Lee was called for an daft cross-check off the puck, then on the penalty kill Watkins fired the puck over the plexi for a delay of game call.
Devils took advantage of the 5-on-3, passing it around until they had made enough space for Jarvis to skate in on the net and fire past the massive gap on Hirsch's near post.
Devils 5-2 Blaze
Into the third period and the Devils got back into penalty trouble themselves. Hicks looked to be letting things to after ignoring a blatant trip on Smith as he went through on goal. 10 seconds later though and with the Blaze counter-attacking Hartwick was called for a soft Holding call.
The Devils had killed penalties well all day, but when the puck bounced up into the air, Jarvis seemed to collect it in his folded arms/shirt and help it back to Lyle. Hicks called him for Delay of Game, and straight from the face off the Blaze needed just 8 seconds of the 5-on-3 to score - Calder passing across ice to Fulghum infront of the net and his first-time shot beat Lyle.
Devils 5-3 Blaze
Back to a two goal game and when Birbraer was called for tripping after several other infractions went unpunished, it looked like the Blaze might get back into the game only for the Devils PK to work well again.
With 10 minutes to go the Devils had their own PP chance to seal the win, but the Blaze PK well and actually created more chances themselves.
With two minutes to go though Jarvis broke down another Blaze attack, the loose puck falling to Miller and he spotted Finnerty free. Finnerty broke away and scored, though I have to be honest and say I'm not sure how it went in. My first impressions was that it hit the post, bounced back and went in off Hirsch's skate but I couldn't see the replay clearly.
Devils 6-3 Blaze
Game as good as over and even the Blaze seemed to admit defeat as those final two minutes passed without further incident.
Jarvis got man of the match for the Devils, but it could have been anyone of several. Hartwick broke down attack after attack as did Richardson.
My man of the match though would have been Finnerty. I always though of him as a grinder and hardworker for the Steelers. He is, but I never appreciated his passing ability and reading of the game. He's been the best player for the Devils since he signed for us and a great addition to the team.
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