Bulmer beats Devils with overtime strike

Brett Bulmer netted early in sudden death overtime as Fife Flyers secured a hard-earned two points last night from a bruising Elite League battle at Cardiff Devils.

The Scots led 2-0 early on and were never behind in a tense encounter with the reigning league and play-off champions.

But never-say-die Devils battled back to level at 4-4 with less than seven minutes left before Fife claimed an extra-time winner through Bulmer.

The Fifers move on to 24 points from 15 games and are two points behind leaders Belfast Giants with a game in hand.

Cardiff remain in fourth position and have 19 points from 13 starts. The defeat was their third in a row.

Fife caught Cardiff cold when Joe Basaraba was set up by Evan Bloodoff and Scott Aarssen after only 3 minutes 46 seconds.

Former Devils forward Paul Crowder made it 2-0 after 19:19 with Rick Pinkston and Bulmer supplying the ammunition.

Devils capitalised, however, as Fife hit penalty trouble and scored two goals in 24 seconds.

Joey Martin netted on the power play for 2-1 four minutes into the middle session.

And Bryce Reddick levelled seconds later.

That could have broken Fife but they dug in and 11 minutes later they were back in front.

Ex-Edinburgh Capitals star Mike Cazzola supplied the finishing touch after Carlo Finucci and Evan Stoflet were involved in the move.

Cardiff levelled again after 41 minutes when Layne Ulmer netted but Fife kept on coming and were rewarded after 50 minutes when they took a 4-3 lead through Danick Gauthier.

Bulmer and Bloodoff assisted. But back came Cardiff and three minutes later they equalised through Matthew Myers.

The scoreline stayed that way until the final buzzer.

The sides then moved into sudden death overtime with three skaters each.

It was the visitors who took two points with Bulmer’s goal 1 minute 42 into the extra period.