Fife winning streak ended by the Devils

ICE HOCKEY: Eightgame run over after on-form Flyers hit for seven in Wales

CARDIFF DEVILS 7 FIFE FLYERS 2

Fife Flyers’ sensational eight-game winning run came to an abrupt halt yesterday when the Kirkcaldy side were blown away by defending play-off champions Cardiff Devils.

Four goals in five third-period minutes did the damage as Todd Dutiaume’s men were beaten for the first time in five weeks.

The Flyers had gone 2-0 behind after nine minutes after goals from Sean Bentivoglio and Joey Martin.

Mike Cazzola gave Fife hope with a strike with one minute remaining of the session after good build-up work involving Brett Bulmer and Carlo Finucci.

The scoreline stayed that way until the 34th minute. Ben Blood netted, followed by a second from Martin less than two minutes later.

Bentivoglio was on target within seconds to bag a fifth for Cardiff and Joey Haddad added another before the second break.

By that time Fife had been outshot 26 to 11, with Cardiff firing 13 shots at Shane Owen in the opening two sessions alone.

Fife replied with five in the first and six in the second as they were swept aside.

Devils kept on pressing and Gleason Fournier added a seventh after six minutes of the final session.

Evan Bloodoff scored a consolation second for the visitors via a penalty shot but Dutiaume’s men faced a long bus trip home after a big and unexpected defeat.

The loss came just 24 hours after Fife had beaten league leaders Nottingham Panthers in a 12-goal thriller in Kirkcaldy.

Nottingham scored after nine minutes but Fife then hit back with five straight goals between the 12th and 33rd minutes to take command, eventually winning 7-5.

Dutiaume said: “I let the guys know that if we have serious aspirations to stay at the top of the league then we can’t switch off mentally or physically.”

The Canadian-born former player said the fans had expectations before the game and his men played well for the first two periods.

He added: “We knew they (Nottingham) would come out hard and put us under pressure but once we got in front the building was electrified.

“At 5-1 we had taken our chances well and got ourselves in a good position but all credit to Nottingham Panthers, who took it to us in the later stages and we probably let ourselves down in the third. However, we’ve had a wonderful run of eight straight wins in this league and that is down to this group of individuals in the dressing room.”

Mike Cazzola, Scott Aarssen, Ricard Birzins, Carlo Finucci, Brett Bulmer, Danick Gauthier and Paul Crowder netted for the home side.

DUNDEE STARS 1 NOTTINGHAM PANTHERS 2 (AFTER SUDDEN DEATH OVERTIME)

Dundee Stars slid to their eighth straight defeat when they were edged 2-1 by Nottingham Panthers at Dundee Ice Arena last night.

Mark Hurtubise broke home hearts when he converted 73 seconds into the extra session.

Panthers, playing their third game in three nights in Scotland after defeats at Glasgow Clan and Fife Flyers, had gone ahead 26 seconds into the middle session from Brett Perlini.

Stars levelled 18 minutes later from Lukas Lundvald Nielsen, with Connor Cox and Matt Marquardt assisting.

The sides were level at the end of regulation time, leaving the stage set for a dramatic winner and the experienced Hurtubise, who has played in North America, Sweden, Austria and Denmark, supplied the finishing touch.

Only Sheffield Steelers and Milton Keynes Lightning have fewer points than the Stars.

We’ve had a wonderful run... and that is down to this group of individuals. TODD DUTIAUME

Fife’s Evan Bloodoff grabbed a late consolation goal for the Flyers as they were well beaten by Cardiff Devils.