Giants kept their winning run going with another impressive win on the road. Cardiff where the team that stood in their way tonight. It was a physical game with a lot of penalties but that’s what the fans liked to see. It didn’t take long for the physical action to start as Paxton Schulte and Mike Ware dropped the gloves within the first three minutes. Both players sitting out the game for the next 14 minutes as referee Simon Kirkham dished out the first of a total of 118 minutes in penalties.

“We wont back down. They’re a gritty team and we’re a gritty team. Our guys stuck to their guns. We stick up for one another. It was a great team effort. No one backs down”, said Stewart

The first period goal wise belonged to Belfast. With Jason Bowen scoring the first of the night at 13.49 and man of the match Leigh Jamieson making it 2-0 at 17.33.

Devils came out for the second period determined to stay out of the bin and try and pull the game back. But things didn’t go according to plan and a second 10-minute penalty on Mike Ware meant an early shower for the Captain. The Devils under pressure now fought back well and brought a goal back thought Dennis Maxwell who received a pass from Vezio Sacratini and fired the puck low and hard into the side of the net to score Devils first of the night.

Both teams stepping up the pace of the game and putting together some skillful hockey. But the score remained 2-1 to the Giants going into the third and final period. It was the Giants who came up with the first goal of the 3rd period, Jason Ruff defeating McInerney in the Devils net at 50.19.

But as is the Devils way, they didn’t give up and Ivan Matulik was in the right place at the right time to feed Sacratini in front of the Belfast net at 56.40. With 2 minutes to go to the end of the game Devils gambled on getting the equalising goal and pulled net minder McInerney. Added offensive pressure was applied but the final goal just wouldn’t come.

“The boys worked very hard and it was a great road win. We where in the box a lot and we where short up front but everyone battled through that. We logged a lot of ice time but then hit back on the powerplay”, said Rob Stewart

Cardiff Devils 2-3 Belfast Giants

Goals
0-1 Belfast, J.Bowen (Kelman, Kenny) 13:49 (pp)
0-2 Belfast, Jamieson (J.Bowen, Sample) 17:33 (pp)
1-2 Cardiff, Maxwell (Scaratini) 31:38
1-3 Belfast, Ruff (Ward, Johnson) 50:19
2-3 Cardiff, Scaratini (Matulik) 56:40 

Man of the Match
Devils: Jonathan Phillips, Giants: Leigh Jamieson.

Devils Shots 27
Giants Shots 35

On the subject: Cardiff Devils, Mike Ware, Paxton Schulte, Rob Stewart | ALL SUBJECTS |

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