Stingrays v Devils - Challenge Cup

Cardiff Devils – Hull Stingrays 31/10/2009 Challenge Cup

Cardiff came out victorious in a 12 goal shoot-out in the Hull Arena, that saw some great performances for the young Brits from both teams, with Devils backup Michael Crisp recording his first Elite League win as starting net minder.

With group B already decided by the Devils victory over the Blaze mid week, both teams were playing for nothing but pride.

The Devils started the first period slowly, and it took an early goal from Stingray's Davies (at 1:13) to get the scoring started and inject some life into the game. Speedy Davies left the Devils defence flat footed, and placed an expert shot over Crisp's glove side shoulder.

What followed was a spell of free scoring, that left the game tied at 3 a piece. Devils got a goal back from Wes Jarvis (assists Adams and Michel) at 1:46, only for Stingray's Davies to pull another back at 2:50 (assists Sanford and Cloutier). With both teams looking lack lustre, Birbraer (assists Voth and Towe) managed to capitalise on Devils possession and equalise at 4:30. Stingray's then came back to take the lead again 6:23 with a strike for Curtis Huppe (assist Davies) that the Devils defence and Crisp will surely want back.

The difference came with the Devils on the penalty kill. With Smith serving 2 minutes for hooking, Miller was fed the puck. Skating the length of the rink, Miller went around Sandhal to score an excellent short handed marker.

Shorted handed goal secured, and penalty killed, the Devils were a different team. A long period of Devils possession was rewarded by the second goal of the night for Birbraer at 18:13 (assists Voth and Smith) gave the Devils the lead for the first time. Devils were able to carry this into the break.

Going into the second, both teams seemed to be energised. Both teams creating good chance, but the Devils looked the stronger side. On both sides, the defensive errors seemed to have disappeared, and both netminders looking solid. For the Devils Crisp made several good saves, and didn't look out of place.

With it looking like the we were heading into the third with a 1 goal Devils lead, Smith was able to capitalise on a late power play. From the start of the power play, it was all Devils and Sandhal made some good stops to keep it at one. However, at 38:45 Smith was able to link up with Voth and Romfo to give the Devils a 2 goal buffer heading into the break.

Into the third period, and it looked like the Devils were continuing from where they left off in the second. Some solid saves by Crisp and sprawling saves by Sandhal made it look like the Devils were going to comfortably ride it out.

However, a quick short handed unassisted goal by Jeff Glowa at 46:14, whilst Thompson was serving a hooking penalty, gave the Hull side a life line. Despite Miller increasing the difference to 2 goals with a power play strike 20 seconds later (assists Latulippe and Davies), Hull seemed to recover the belief that they could still win.

Less than a minute later, new Stingray defencemen Halkidis brought the deficit back to one (47:31 assist Kalmikov).

The remainder of the game was close fought, with the Devils seeking that insurance goal and Hull looking to get it back on equal terms.

It looked like the Stingrays had been thrown a lifeline, when Hartwick took an interference call at 58:40. Hull took the opportunity to pull the netminder for the extra attacker. However, a face-off win for the Devils allowed Mark Smith to make a move up the left wing, and make a perfect pass to Miller who tapped it into the empty net for the insurance goal, and his hat trick (58:49 assist Smith).

The game ends with the Devils winning 7 – 5.

Devils Man of the match Matt Miller.

Stingrays Man of the Match Matt Davies.