Bobby Chaumont's OT strike gives The Clan the W in an exciting battle at Braehead Arena.
Third placed Cardiff came to Braehead, out for revenge for the 7-1 decimation dished out earlier in the month. The Clan were looking to build on last week's 4 point weekend, and from the off both teams signalled their intentions.
Within the opening minutes of the first period, Cardiff indiscipline resulted in a 5 on 3 powerplay in Clan's favour. However, the home side failed to take advantage of the numbers game and Devils killed the PP, which they would do for the majority of the game.
While enjoying most of the posession, Braehead were reluctant to force Lyle in to action in the Devills' goal. When not chasing the puck, Devil's looked dangerous on the break with Michel, Pelle and MaCrae bringing out some fine stops from Perras. The Clan pipe minder was in inspired form but could not prevent Cardiff taking the lead.
A shot from distance was saved by Perras, with Wedderburn stretching to block the follow up from Craig. However the heroics were undone as Michel slotted home from close range at 19:00.
The period ended with Cardiff out shooting Braehead 12-5.
The 1600 home crowd, augmented by some visitors form Mannheim were treated to a much more clinical 2nd period. It looked as if both Perras and Lyle would continue to keep the score at 1-0 for the period, with JFP making 4 world class stops to prevent the Devil's going further ahead. At the other end, Lyle was on hand to keep out Cook, Krestanovich and Campbell.
Kyle Bruce was binned for slashing, giving Clan their first penalty of the night but upon his return to the ice, Hill put Cardiff 2-0 up. Good work on the right from MacRae picked out Hill at the back post for an easy net at 30:59. The 2-0 deficit was perhaps unjust, but by taking their chances, Cardiff were edging out their hosts.
This was not lost on Bruce Richardson, who called a time out before the game resumed. His words seemed to work as within 2 minutes of the puck drop, Clan were level. Krestanovich regained posession just inside the Devils' third and drove fast and hard to the net, slotting home unassisted on 12:17.
The noisy Braehead crowd enjoyed the goal and had barely stopped celebrating when the equaliser came. Jon Landry worked the puck to Cook, who teed up Ryan Campbell who slammed home past the impressive Lyle at 12:55. Clan were back in the game and looked the more dangerous. Bruce and Smith then clashed behind the Cardiff goal, resulting in the Devil being carried from the ice with a nasty looking knee injury.
Lyle's goal was peppered a few more times as Weller's trip on Bruce left them a man down, but Blan couldn't find a way through. 2-2 at the end of the second left both teams with all to play for in the 3rd.
The final period found both teams going for it with Landry, Cook and Chaumont going close for Clan and Michel, Weller and the unnamed number 6 denied by Perras. MacRae took a roughing penalty which Cook almost took advantage of before Chaumont ended up in the box. Weller and Michel missed chances for the winner before spending time in the box. The timing of these sins would prove costly as the game went in to over time.
As the game restarted 4 on 3, Braehead's tails were up and took all of 41 seconds for them to find the winner. Similar to Devils' 2-0 goal, Krestanovich fed Bobby Chaumont who found the top bag past Lyle. The Clan bench rushed the ice to congratulate Chaumont on his winner, as the home crowd erupted.
Voth and Wathier were given MVP in a match where it could have gone to anyone. Cardiff travelled home a tad unlucky, while remaining 3rd as Braehead took a 3 point lead over Coventry in 5th.
Final score at Braehead Arena: Cardiff Devils 2 Braehead Clan 3 (AOT)
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