Cardiff Devils 6-1 Excel Hull Stingrays
The Excel Hull Stingrays tonight began a hectic six day schedule - in which they take to the ice four times - with defeat, losing out to the Cardiff Devils by six goals to one for their sixth defeat against the Welsh side in seven meetings.
Sylvain Cloutier's side came into the game looking to complete a full set of Elite League scalps - having beaten every team but the Devils this season - however, three first period goals from the Devils explosive first line of Max Birbraer, Jon Pelle and Scott Matzka all but ended those optimistic hopes, with Aivars Gaisins, Ben Lowe and Ryan Lake missing through work and Jereme Tendler and Craig Mitchell sidelined through injury.
The Devils piled on the misery in the final two periods, firing home three more times through Tylor Michel, Birbraer and Ryan Finnerty to give title contenders a six goal advantage. However, Konstantin Kalmikov netted a consolation goal with six minutes remaining for his third goal in three games to end Cardiff hopes of a shut out.
Thankfully for the Rays the fixture was the sides last meeting of the year in a series that the Devils have well an truly owned, winning six of seven games having started the year with a 3-3 Challenge Cup tie in Hull.
There is no doubt Cloutier and the Stingrays will be happy to see the back of the Welsh side this season although there remains a distinct possibility that they could meet in the first round of the playoffs if the Devils finish as Elite League runners up.
Next up for the Stingrays is a fixture in Belfast on Thursday ahead weekend fixtures in Coventry on Saturday and at home to the Newcastle Vipers on Sunday.
