Flames took the shot count with a 38-24 advantage, but a couple of home team powerplay goals helped propel Cardiff Devils to a 4-2 home ice win over the visiting Flames to close out 2022.
Justin Crandall opened Cardiff’s account less than 2 minutes in. Daniel Tedesco at 11:35 while the teams skated 4 on 4 levelled, but a Cole Sanford powerplay strike just under 2 minutes later had Devils in a lead to start the middle set.
The home side had the only goal of the 2nd thanks to Stefan Fournier who converted a powerplay about halfway through the frame, and that turned out to be the winner.
A 3rd period Flames powerplay strike cut their deficit in the 51st minute with Tedesco’s 2nd of the contest, but 62 seconds from time Devils sealed it with a Marcus Crawford empty netter.
Eamon McAdam made 20 saves on 23 shots and Taran Kozun guarding the Devils cage turned away 36 of 38.
“It’s unfortunate we came out on the wrong end of that score, because we probably did enough that it might have been a win on a lot of other nights, but both teams were pretty good,” said Paul Dixon.
“We had a lot of good fortune at earlier parts of the season and now it is a bit of a tough stretch where a bounce here or there is not quite going our way. With time running out we hit a crossbar to tie it and in November that one went in and right now it isn’t going in. To be fair, that is to be expected over the course of a long season that is now only at the halfway point. There are ups and downs and we just need to keep our heads up and fight our way through.”
“All we can do is re-group overnight and have a re-do tomorrow night on home ice in front of a sold out building, and I am sure we will come out ready to put in a very good effort to try and turn this stretch around.”
