Devils edging closer, but it’s another exit at the group stage
CARDIFF Devils are desperately close to being genuine contenders to qualify for the Champions Hockey League last 32.
They won’t make it this season, but coach Andrew Lord and his men are within touching distance of making the next step.
They lost 3-1 against at Swedish champions Vaxjo Lakers on Tuesday, but it was incredibly close and the home team were relieved to earn their win.
They won’t fancy playing the return in Cardiff Bay next Tuesday.
Lakers had to win if they were to keep their hopes of going into the knockout stages alive, but they were made to work every step of the way in front of more than 4,000 spectators.
With less than a minute left Lakers were clinging on to a 2-1 lead earned by a breakaway, shorthanded goal in the first period.
Goalie Ben Bowns stopped 32 of the 25 Lakers’ shots on target and Devils, once again, were left frustrated by a defeat they scarcely deserved.
They have earned one point from five group fixtures - an overtime loss against SC Bern - and have run all three of their group rivals close.
Cardiff struck first when Mike Hedden broke and left Vaxjo D-men gasping with a fluent break sent him through. Hedden faked out goalie netminder Viktor Andrén and slipped his shot through the five hole to score.
That came after eight minutes 33 seconds and it took a brilliant solo goal to level the goals when Pontus Netterberg skated in from the left and went across the front of Bowns’ net before finding the net (10-00).
Lakers fired a shorthanded goal when Brendan Shinnimin powered forward when Devils lost possession and fired into the corner. Goalie Bowns almost saved it, but the puck flew off his glove and just inside a post.
That completed the first period scoring and the middle 20 minutes were goalless.
Devils battled on and had their chance when Netterberg was penalised 2+2 for boarding.
Those four minutes were crucial and the home team hung on to their advantage with Matt Pope and Joey Haddad going closest to levelling the scores.
When the game went into the last minute, Devils were still looking for the goal that would ensure overtime and put Lakers out of the competition.
But Vegas Golden Knights prospect Jonas Røndberg fired a quick one-time shot to give the Lakers an insurance maker with less than a minute to go (59-09).
This weekend, Devils entertain DUndee Stars in an Elite League clash at Ice Arena Wales on Saturday (7pm), before heading to Milton keynes to play the Lightning in the Challenge Cup on Sunday (5pm).
Match stats: Scorers: Lakers:
Pontus Netterberg 1+0; Brendan Shinnimin 1+0, Jonas Røndbjerg 1+0, Austin Ortega 0+1, Joel Persson 0+2, Roman Horák 0+1, Pontus Holmberg 0+1. Mike Hedden 1+0, Joey Haddad 0+1, Stephen Dixon 0+1. 2-1;
Devils: Period scores (Lakers first):
0-0 (2-1); 1-0 (3-1)
Lakers 65, Devils
Shots in total:
27.
Shots on goal:
18.
Shots blocked:
4. Lakers 2+2+6=10, Devils 2+2+8=12. Lakers 6, Devils 4.
Penalties in minutes:
Powerplays: Face-offs won (Lakers first):
36-28
Lakers 35, Devils Lakers 15, Devils