Date: Sunday 16th September, 2018
Venue: Ice Arena Wales
by Ian Fitzell
A DECISIVE win over new-look Milton Keynes Lightning saw the Cardiff Devils lay to rest the disappointment of their last two Challenge Cup season openers.
The Devils stuttered previously, but an impressive 9-1 win saw a very different start to this year’s campaign.
Lightning’s summer team rebuild saw three ex-Sheffield Steelers join the Buckinghamshire side, each playing a part in impressive early season away wins, against their old team in pre-season and beating Coventry Blaze 4-2 on Saturday at home.
Visa problems left the Lightning short benched, with them icing only 13 skaters at Ice Arena Wales, and their problems were further compounded by the clinical display put on by the Devils. The Devils were again missing Mark Richardson and Justin Faryna.
Before the puck dropped, the Devils raised ceremonial banners for their League and Playoff triumphs last year, providing inspiration for what proved to be a forceful performance from the home side.
Early pressure from the Devils paid off when man of the match Charlie Linglet scored his first goal in a Devils shirt, picking up a rebound from Milton Keynes goalie Patrick Killeen who spilled skipper Jake Morrisette’s initial effort after just 1.40. This was the start of a dominant first period from the home side.
The Devils, showing little ill-effect from the bruising encounter the night before with a league opening win over title rivals the Nottingham Panthers, began a rampant period of play. New recruit Mike Hedden extended the Devils lead when he picked up a defence-splitting pass from Josh Batch, walking in a goal.
The Devils two goal lead was immediately nullified when David Norris beat Ben Bowns in the Cardiff net, but normal service was resumed when Morrissette and Linglet again combined, with the Devils Captain restoring the two goal lead with a spinerama goal.
The home side looked like they could score on every attack, with the Devils fourth of the night coming from Layne Ulmer, assisted by the increasingly influential ex-KHLer Linglet. Matt Pope continued the first period rout with a well taken goal, as the Devils charged to a four-goal lead within the first 17 minutes.
The Devils first period display was rounded off when league MVP Joey Martin was left unmarked for a powerplay goal, Killeen was called for a delay of game penalty in the last minute of the period.
With the score at 6-1, Thomas Murdy replaced Bowns in the Devils net at the start of the second period, offering some valuable ice time for the Cardiff back-up keeper who would go on to record a two-period shutout.
Martin scored his second of the game following a penalty kill with an easy tap in, giving Killeen no chance.
A Mark Louis shot was tipped down by Josh Batch in front of the Lighting net that again ended up in the MK net, but was disallowed by referees Tom Darnell and Matt Thompson following a video review.
Linglets evident class and skill on the puck provided a pin point pass to the stick of Martin, who again tapped in to secure his hattrick, with almost half the game still left to go. Sean Bentivoglio rounded off the scoring seeing a 9-1 end to the second period.
A quieter third period saw the Devils ease off with a few chances for both sides not converted and leading to a scoreless final period.
The Devils now look ahead to next week where they continue their Challenge Cup campaign against the Coventry Blaze at home on Saturday, before meeting arch rivals the Sheffield Steelers away in the league on Sunday.
Match Stats:
Devils
Joey Martin 3+0, Charles Linglet 1+4, Layne Ulmer 1+3, Jake Morrissette 1+2, Matt Pope 1+2, Sean Bentivoglio 1+1, Mike Hedden 1+0, Josh Batch 0+2, Joey Haddad 0+1, Bryce Reddick 0+1
PIMS – 6
SOG – 33
MOM – Charles Linglet
Lightning
David Norris 1+0, Michael Fine 0+1, Andreas Valdix 0+1
PIMS – 6
SOG – 14
MOM – Joonas Huovinen
Be the first to comment