Rink Round-up: Sunday 27th March

Cardiff Devils 6 Hull Stingrays 3

(Cardiff win 8-4 on aggregate)

Two goals 19 seconds apart in the second period from the Devils effectively killed off any chances Hull had of making it to the play off weekend for the first time. As a result the Devils booked their place for the eighth consecutive time, they are the only team in the eight years of the play-offs to make the final weekend on every occasion.

They have yet to win the play offs but they go into next weekend as the form team having won their last eleven games and they will be hoping lady luck is on their side this year.

Two quick goals from Brad Voth at 9.05 on the powerplay and Tyler Michel at 10.47 set the Devils on their way. Stingrays did pull one back through Jereme Tendler at 14.12. However, Ryan Finnerty with the Devils second powerplay goal of the night at 18.14 gave the home side a 5-2 aggregate lead after the opening period.

A further three goals from the home side in the second period put them out of sight. Craig Weller got the fourth goal of the night at 28.20. Then came the two goals in 19 seconds that put the Devils firmly in the driving seat as Scott Matzka netted at 35.34 followed a strike from Jon Pelle at 35.51.

With the game won, the Devils eased off in the third period and this allowed the Stingrays to find the net twice with goals ten minutes apart. The first of these came at 44.05 from the stick of Konstantin Kalmikov and then a powerplay goal at 54.01 from Andrew Coburn. All they were in the end were consolation goals and Devils go forward to the play finals next weekend.

Period Scores: 3-1, 3-0, 0-2

Penalty Mins: Car 20 – Hul 16

Powerplay: Car 2/6 - Hul 1/8

Shots On: Stevie Lyle 33 – Christian Boucher 29

Referee: Tom Darnell

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Coventry Blaze 1 Belfast Giants 2 (After Penalty Shootout)

(Belfast win 4-3 on aggregate)

Excitement aplenty at the Skydome as Blaze and Giants fought it out to make the Play-Off semis and in a dramatic ending it was the Odyssey based side who went through thanks to a shootout goal by Jeff Mason after the teams had tied 3-3 on aggregate after 125 minutes of Play-Off hockey.

Similar to last night Giants had very much the majority of the play and the chances but Brett jaeger in the home goal was immense and his teammates scraped for everything. Giants won the shot count by 13 to 8 in the opening period but went in a goal behind after Russell Cowley beat Stephen Murphy between the Giants pipes at 16.03.

The second period saw Giants back on terms both in the match and the tie when Dan Welch fired home at 25.02 but after that neither side could score again, despite powerplay opportunities, including a 5 on 3 spell for Blaze in the third period. Into overtime and even then each side had a chance on the powerplay but winner could be found.

The shootout saw Mason score with the first shot but although both Welch and Craig Peacock missed for Giants, all three Blaze shooters – Greg Owen, Luke Fulghum and Greg Chambers failed to score – and it was Giants who were celebrating in the end.      

Period Scores: 1-0, 0-1, 0-0, 0-0, 0-1 (0-1)

Penalty Mins: Cov 16 – Bel 12

Powerplay: Cov 0/4 – Bel 0/6

Shots On: Brett Jaeger 51 – Stephen Murphy 25

Referee: Moray Hanson