Finns get the better of Devils in CHL
CARDIFF Devils were in Finland on Wednesday night, taking on the Finnish Champions Lukko Rauma in the Champions Hockey League.
Here’s a breakdown of the action...
FIRST PERIOD – The home side came out flying out-shooting the Devils 11-2 in the opening frame. That shot count resulted in a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes with goals coming from Noel Pietilä at 9:18, then Arttu Ilomäki at 11:55.
SECOND PERIOD – Lukko picked up where they left off in the middle period, scoring an early goal at 23:05 from Kristian Pospisil to extend their lead to 3-0. But the Devils came straight back and scored 29 seconds later when Cole Sanford dangled around a Lukko defender and fired the puck in the top corner to pull the Devils a goal back at 23:34.
On the ensuing face-off, Josh Batch was called for hooking at 23:45 and Lukko scored almost immediately with a powerplay goal from Vili Saarijärvi restoring their three goal lead.
At 32:02, the Devils pulled within two when Josh Waller scored a beauty with a wrist shot over the shoulder of Lassi Lehtinen in net for Lukko Rauma.
THIRD PERIOD - The Devils skated with the Finnish Champs for most of the period with the Devils killing off another penalty. Midway through the period, the Devils got their first powerplay with just under two minutes remaining and Coach Jarrod Skalde opted to pull Mac Carruth to make it a 6 on 4 advantage, but Lukko scored an empty netter at 58:10 to make it 5-2 and seal the win.
Mac Carruth stopped 33 of the 37 shots he faced, while the Devils penalty-killing unit managed to kill off 4 of the 5 powerplays for Lukko Rauma. The win puts the Finns through to the next round of the CHL. ■ The Devils host Lukko Rauma in Cardiff next Wednesday October 13th in their final CHL game this season.