Cardiff Devils 3-4 Belfast Giants: League leaders suffer setback against slick Giants

By Eleanor Clifton

Cardiff Devils went down in overtime to a fourth defeat of the season in the Elite League – and a second loss to the Giants.

Having been beaten 3-1 in the Northern Irish capital in October, there was no joy again for Pete Russell’s men at the Vindico Arena as Pierre Olivier-Morin’s winner, 3.03 mins into time added on, proved decisive.

The Giants went ahead in the fourth minute with a goal by Josh Roach, assisted by Bobo Carpenter, but both sides had a flurry of opportunities in the opening exchanges.

Devils came close when Cole Sanford narrowly failed to convert on the rebound after a shot was deflected away by Giants netminder Jackson Whistle.

In the seventh minute, Cardiff had the power play as Belfast’s J.J. Piccinich was put in the penalty box for tripping, but the hosts couldn’t take advantage.

Devils were frustrated by the excellence of Whistle between the pipes and in the 16^th minute a fight broke out between Riley Brandt and Cameron Pound – with Brandt seemingly trying to give Cardiff some momentum.

But in the 18^th minute Belfast scored again. Zak Galambos’ pass found Jordan Kawaguchia, who found the net to give the Giants a 2-0 lead at the end of the first period.

Belfast started the second period how they finished the first, by making strong passes through the Cardiff players.

In the 22^nd minute, Devils had a penalty-kill after Zach O’Brien was put in the penalty box for hooking.

And moments later Cardiff were on the power play as Belfast’s Karl Boudrias was sent to the penalty box for tripping.

The home side took advantage of being a player up, as Gleason Fournier teed up Joey Martin for a goal that hauled the Devils back into the game.

And when, in the 28^th minute, Giants’ Kyle Osterberg was put into the penalty box for slashing giving the Devils the power play, a comeback looked on.

But again, Cardiff just couldn’t take advantage.

During the middle part of the second period play began to slow compared to the first, but in the  35^th minute the Giants went 3-1 up with a goal from Cameron Pound, which deflected in off Devils goaltender Ben Bowns.

There was a real edge to the final period as the Devils chased the game and the Giants showed their desperation to cling to their lead.

But it was the Devils’ turn to grab the ascendancy.

Two quick fire goals by Kohen Olischefki, both assisted by Sanford, levelled the score and increased the tension during the closing stages.

Cardiff had a penalty-kill in 52^nd minute, as Josh MacDonald went to the penalty box for tripping but Belfast couldn’t make anything come from it.

Then in the 56^th minute, Cardiff had the power play after Belfast’s Grant Mismash hit Brandt on the head.

Ultimately the game had to go to overtime, and with just two minutes left Morin was able to find the winner for Belfast from an assist by Kawaguchi.