01 Mar 2024, 19:30 | Regular season | Ice Arena Wales |
Cardiff Devils | 5-6 SO | Guildford Flames |
Periods: Shots: | 1-1 (10-13) | 3-2 (7-13) | 1-2 (7-13) | 0-0 (2-2) | Total: 26-41 |
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Referees: Rose/Ions  |  Spectators: 3100 |
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Goals and assists
Adam Long stopped all five penalty shots he faced to help Guildford
Flames snap their losing streak with a 6-5 SO win over Cardiff Devils.
The
Devils' second powerplay of the game saw them take the lead through
Ryan Barrow at 12:32, Ryan Barrow taking Marcus Crawford's pass into the
slot and beating Eamon McAdam with a nice deke. Matt Alvaro levelled
under four minutes later after a trademark Ryan Tait break down the wing
with Alvaro taking the pass and beating Ben Bowns at the second
attempt.
After a tame two goals in the opening period, the second
was a goal-fest for the sold-out Vindico Arena crowd. Barrow and Alvaro
both scored powerplay goals just over 90 seconds apart early in to have
the teams tied at two by 27:45. Jordan Klimek then put the Flames ahead
for the first time in the game at 29:!7, only for Brandon Alderson to
tie things up two minutes later. With three seconds left in the period,
Joey Martin put the Devils back ahead, after which he and Alvaro were
given fighting majors. Adam Long took over netminding duties for the
Flames at 31:12 with McAdam injured.
Cardiff led 5-3 with 13:10 to
go thanks to Jamie Arniel, but two goals in three and a half minutes
changed all that. Sam Talbot pulled the Flames back to within one at
52:59, followed by captain Brett Ferguson levelling with 3:31 to play.
Guildford spent the final 79 seconds of regulation on the powerplay
following a late penalty of Evan Mosey, but the Devils held out to force
overtime.
Alderson came close to winning it in overtime as he got
a jump on a Flames defenseman but couldn't beat Long in what was
arguably the best chance of the bonus period.
OT couldn't separate
the teams, and the shootout ultimately had to. Steven McParland was the
only scorer in the entire shootout, with Long stopping all five shots
he faced.