Slam’s still in Devils sights
CARDIFF Devils are still on course for a Grand Slam at the top level of British ice hockey, writes Terry Phillips.
They have qualified for the Elite League play-off finals weekend, beating Manchester Storm home and away.
Joey Haddad, Chris Culligan and Gleason Fournier scored in the away leg as Devils out-shot their hosts 39-23.
All four home countries are represented at finals weekend.
Devils now play Dundee Stars in Saturday’s play-off semi-final at the National Ice Centre, Nottingham (1pm), while Sheffield Steelers face Belfast Giants in the second game (5pm).
The winners will clash in Sunday’s final, also at the NIC (4pm).
Dundee crushed Braehead Clan 6-1 over two legs, while Steelers lost the first leg of their clash with Nottingham Panthers 5-2 before winning 5-1 at home.
The clash was decided in sudden death overtime.
Belfast Giants overcame Fife Flyers, winning 4-1 at home and 4-2 away.
Player-coach Andrew Lord and his team battled to a 3-2 home win in the first leg against Storm, recovering from 2-1 down to snatch a win, thanks to goals from Patrick Asselin, Joey Haddad and Scott Hotham.
A capacity attendance of more than 3,000 spectators roared Devils to victory.
American forward Denny Kearney was the player left out of the Devils line-up in both quarter-final matches.
They carry an extra import player on their roster and one has to sit out.
Devils scored after 15 minutes 20 seconds. Asselin was the scorer with assists going to Gleason Fournier and Joey Haddad.
Storm levelled the scores when Connor Varley scored a shorthanded goal after 27-19 and then Mark Heatley fired the visitors ahead (32-23).
Haddad scored Devils second goal after 44-02, skating hard through the middle and fooling goalie Clement before flicking the puck into Storm’s net from close range for an outstanding solo goal.
The home team had regained their composure and Storm faced a long spell of pressure which ended when defenceman Scott Hotham forced the puck home after 50-46.
Hotham had a shot blocked and that led to a scramble in front of the Storm net with Clemente making a couple of big saves.
The puck dropped to Hotham, who fired just inside a post from close in.