Glasgow Clan ended a hectic run of 13 games in 27 days with their third straight loss as current Elite League champions Cardiff Devils put them to the sword in a 5-2 victory at the Viola Arena.
It would be the end of an ironically long February for Pete Russell’s team, considering it’s the shortest month of the year and finishing it with a trip to a team on the back of two losses to Belfast Giants, their nearest challengers, was never going to be an easy proposition.
After eight minutes, the Devils were a goal up shorthanded when Layne Ulmer set up Gleason Fournier and the home defenceman delivered the finish to put them one up. However the reaction wasn’t long in coming.
Good combination work between Scott Pitt and Matt Beca saw the latter bat it into the net in mid-air to pull them level almost straight away and Russell’s men were back on level terms within a couple of minutes later.
Cardiff were back in front four minutes into the second period when Bryce Reddick was allowed time and space to despatch his shot past Clan goalie Joel Rumpel into the net to get the breakthrough.
But again, Glasgow weren’t down for long as Matt Haywood equalised just over a minute later after being set up by Michal Gutwald and beating Devils goalie Ben Bowns with a tip on front of the crease. Suddenly this game started to look interesting.
There was some controversy for Cardiff’s third a couple of minutes later as they pulled ahead, with Josh Batch scoring, but a question over whether Rumpel was impeded in the play leading up to it. The referees checked the goal line technology and found no offence was committed.
Joey Martin added a fourth soon after and the current Elite League champions had opened up a two-goal lead, with the contentiousness of the previous goal still rattling the Clan players.
Soon it was number five as Charles Linglet netted for the Devils as the puck seemed to rebound off him and Rumpel was beaten again in the opening minutes of the third period, putting the game out of reach to leave Glasgow beaten again.
In the night’s other game, Cardiff’s title rivals Belfast Giants left it late to overcome Fife Flyers in a tough contest in Kirkcaldy, taking a 3-1 win, despite Brett Bulmer being on target for the home side.
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