Elite League leaders Cardiff got their season back on track with a 4-0 victory over Braehead on Saturday night.
Devils stay three clear as Sheffield maintain title push
Elite League leaders Cardiff got their season back on track with a 4-0 victory over Braehead on Saturday night.
The Devils saw their winning streak ended last weekend but Clan were blanked for the first time on the road this term as Stevie Lyle posted 21 saves for a fourth shutout of the season.
Brad Voth opened the scoring early on before Craig Weller doubled the advantage before the first break.
Clan found no way past the tight Devils defence despite their endeavour and Jon Pelle extended the Cardiff lead midway through the second period.
Stuart Macrae made it 4-0 at the start of the third to ensure the Devils remained three points clear at the top of the table.
Coventry strolled to a club record win against beleaguered Edinburgh, with all 14 skaters on their roster scoring in a 15-0 demolition at the Sky Dome.
It was a welcome win for the Blaze after three successive defeats while the Capitals slumped to a 12th defeat in a row.
The held on stubbornly early but Brad Cruikshank broke the deadlock at 9.39 and Dan Carlson added a second soon afterwards.
They went into the first interval 3-0 up thanks to a Sean Selmser strike and they added five more in the next period, Greg Chambers scoring twice with Cruikshank also completing a double.
The Capitals switched goalies in the thir but it made little difference as the hosts netted on seven occasions inside a seven minute spell after the break.
Robert Farmer completed a double as did Selmser, 16-year-old Ross Venus found the net while Russell Cowley also scored twice to complete Edinburgh's misery.
Nottingham were forced to come from behind to beat Hull 3-1 in front of another impressive 5,000 attendance at the NIC.
Panthers had more of the play in the opening period but were unable to break the deadlock before Jereme Tendler gave the visitors a surprise lead with 17 seconds left in the session.
But the hosts were back on level terms within a minute of the restart, Marc Levers finding the net before Jade Galbraith scored the go-ahead goal after 32 minutes.
The next goal was likely to be the clincher and so it proved, Rob Bellamy capitalising on a powerplay in the 45th minute to secure the points for the Panthers.
Sheffield withstood a late fightback from Belfast to secure a 5-4 win and remain second in the Elite League standings.
Giants dominated for long period and took a 1-0 lead into the second period but Steelers' goalie Ervins Mustukovs was oustanding on the night with 42 saves from 46 shots to thwart the visitors.
Brandon Benedict scored in the 10th minute on a powerplay but it did not reflect Giants dominance and Sheffield made them pay in the second period despite being outshot by 16 to seven.
Derek Campbell levelled before Rob Globke put the Steelers ahead at 31.47, but in a disastrous end to the period Jeff Legue and Steve Munn scored within seconds of each other to give the hosts a 4-1 lead.
Craig Peacock responded within a minute of the restart for Belfast but Rod Sarich stretched the lead once again at 44-13 and although Peacock claimed his second and Colin Hemingway netted a late powerplay goal, Sheffield held on to claim the points.
Dundee came from behind to pick up a 3-2 win at Newcastle in a dirty affair that saw a penalty minute count of 130.
Referee Moray Hanson called an early halt to proceedings after the game erupted in the 19th minute, Stars losing Steve Makway on a match penalty for fighting and Brent Hughes on a game misconduct while Vipers saw Mike Prpich banished on a 5 plus game misconduct for a cross check.
The second period was a calmer affair and saw Vipers take the lead through Jaroslaw Rzeszutko in the 25th minute, before Stars tied it up on a 5 on 3 powerplay via AJ McLean.
Vipers took a lead into the final period through Paul Sample but their lack of numbers cost them with Lauri Kinos levelling the scores before Jay Latulippe beat Charlie Effinger for what turned out to be the winner on 53.55.
