Elite League.
xa0Saturday 19th January.
Viola Arena, Cardiff.
Cardiff Devils 4xa0 xa02xa0 Stena Line Belfast Giants.xa0
The Stena Line Belfast Giants lost out to the Cardiff Devils 4-2 in Saturday’s weekend opener. A game winning goal from Gleason Fournier early in the final period gave the league leaders a first win over the Giants this season.
Saturday’s defeat sees the Giants remain in second place, seven points behind the Devils with one game in-hand. Belfast have a chance to respond immediately when the two sides go toe-to-toe on Sunday at 4pm in Cardiff.
Colin Shields opened the scoring with a hammer of a slapshot from the face-off circle at 9:01, assisted by Curtis Leonard and Kendall McFaull.
Cardiff hit back on the powerplay at 16:00 when Charles Linglet picked out Mike Hidden in space at the back post and the Devil finished well into the Giants net.
The Devil’s crept ahead in the middle period. Layne Ulmer edged the hosts in front at 22:08 with a close range effort, assisted by Matt Pope.
The Devils extended their lead at 42:17 when Gleason Fournier scored from the blueline, assisted by Matthew Myers.
Darcy Murphy’s powerplay strike at 50:19 made it a one-goal game, assisted by Blair Riley and Jim Vandermeer.
The Giants pressed for the late equaliser, though Sean Bentivoglio took advantage of the empty Giants net and extended the Cardiff lead to 4-2 at 58.57.
Final Score
Cardiff Devils 4-2 Stena Line Belfast Giants.
Giants Man of the Match
#19 Colin Shields (1 Goal)
Next Up?
Next up – these two sides return to the ice immediately with a 4pm face-off on Sunday in Cardiff.
Next at home for the Giants is a double header against the Fife Flyers on Friday 25th and Saturday 26th January at The SSE Arena.
Tickets are now on sale online from:
as well as from the Arena Box Office, in person or by calling (028) 9073 9074.
