By Eleanor Clifton
Kohen Olichefski’s shootout goal gave Cardiff Devils victory against Belfast Giants at the seventh attempt this season.
The Giants had won all home and away clashes between the two sides in the current campaign, but the outcome was different this time.
The teams could not be separated after overtime with the score locked at 3-3.
But Josh MacDonald and Olichefski scored for the hosts in the shootout, while only Grant Mismash was successful for Belfast.
The home fans understandably left the Vindico Arena in high spirits, with a trip to Manchester Storm next up on March 29.
Play began with real intensity with the puck going end-to-end and both teams having shots on goal.
In the sixth minute Cardiff were on the powerplay, and Belfast’s JJ Piccinich was sent to the penalty box for tripping.
However, Piccinich only served a minute of his penalty, as the Devils were able to capitalise on being a player up when Joey Martin found the back of the net, after an assist by Zach O’Brien and Cole Sanford.
With one minute left in the first period, the Devils had a penalty kill as Evan Mosey was done for tripping, his penalty continuing into the second period.
The Giants gradually got on top but both defences were made to work hard.
Then, at the halfway point of the second period, the Devils had shot after shot but couldn’t get close enough.
Jeff Baum took a shot from the blue line, but Ben Bowns caught it.
In the 32nd minute, Cardiff were on the power play, as Bo Hanson was done for checking to the head.
Again, Cardiff were able to capitalise on the extra player, as Sanford and Martin helped O’Brien to the home side’s second goal of the night.
As play began to even out, Martin was sent to the penalty box for hooking, leaving the Devils on the penalty kill in the last minute of play.
As the second period ended, the Devils received another penalty as Jarrod Gourley was done for checking. The home fans weren’t happy with this decision, as they booed the refs off the ice.
Belfast made the most of the two-player advantage, as Piccinich and Scott Conway were able to assist Mark Cooper for their first goal of the game.
Both netminders (Bowns and Tom McCollum) had to make massive saves to stop either team from scoring.
In the 49th minute, Martin got the Devils’ third from an assist by MacDonald, but the game was far from over.
Pierre-Oliver Morin pulled one back for Belfast from a face-off in the 51st minute – and the Giants didn’t have to wait long to equalise, as Zak Galambos was assisted by Mike Lee and Bobo Carpenter.
After overtime failed to yield a winner, Devils prevailed in that dramatic shootout.