Flyers upset Cardiff for third straight win

earned their third straight win, beating Elite League pace-setters Cardiff Devils 3-1 in Kirkcaldy last night.

Fife are now on 50 points from 44 matches and claim sixth position ahead of arch rivals Dundee Stars, who have played two games more.

The sides blanked the first session.

Devils, long-time leaders of the 10-strong League, drew first blood. Ryan Russell finished a move also involving Tomas Kurka and Joey Haddad to break the deadlock after 25 minutes.

Fife were held in check until the 33rd minute, when Justin Fox netted after being set up by Nico Sacchetti.

Fife grew in confidence and were the better side heading into the second interval.

They underlined that with two goals. The first came from Ryan Dingle after 47 minutes, with Michael Dorr assisting.

Fox scored his second into an empty net after desperate Cardiff gambled by withdrawing their netminder Ben Bowns in the dying secondstogivethemselvessixskaters.

Reigning champions Sheffield Steelers are now only two points behind the Devils, with both clubs having played 45 games.

could get to within touching distance of qualifying for the play-offs if they can win their weekend games.

Coach Marc Lefebvre explained the “magic numbers” to his men in training ahead of their trip to Elite League title-chasing Sheffield Steelers tomorrow (7pm at Ice Sheffield), followed by the visit of Manchester Storm on Sunday (6.30pm).

The Canadian reports a clean bill of health.

Stars have 49 points from 46 games.

Lefebvre said: “I believe we are five points away from claiming a play-off spot.”

aim to complete their Scottish National Leagueseasononahighbyclaiming a double over Edinburgh Capitals tomorrow (7.30pm).

Tigers are sixth in the 10-strong table with 13 points from 15 games.

Edinburgh have 20 points from 14 starts to be three points adrift of pace-setters Kirkcaldy Kestrels.

Edinburgh also have a game in hand over the Fife club and cannot afford a slip-up.