Edinburgh Capitals' miserable Elite League season continued as they were thrashed 13-2 by Cardiff Devils.
Edinburgh continue losing streak with heavy defeat to Devils
Edinburgh Capitals' miserable Elite League season continued as they were thrashed 13-2 by Cardiff Devils.
In a top-versus-bottom clash, the Devils set a club record for goals in a single game as new Capitals goaltender Jens van Pouke faced a total of 68 shots.
Cardiff did not take the lead until Mark Smith hit the net over five minutes in, with Brad Voth and Phil Hill extending the advantage late on in the first period.
But the floodgates opened in the second as Max Birbraer, Stuart Macrae and Ryan Finnerty all scored before Joe Myers and Jeff Hutchins grabbed two in quick succession for the Capitals.
There was to be no dramatic turnaround, however, and Cardiff raced away as Scott Matzka scored twice, Sam Smith and Tylor Michel also struck, while Voth grabbed a second and Macrae netted twice more to complete his hat-trick.
Belfast Giants roared back from an early deficit to secure their third straight home win with a 5-2 victory over
Braehead Clan.
John Prudden gave the hosts an early lead when he fired home at 2.14, but the Clan hit back through Cody Bostock before Matt Haywood gave them the lead at 12.59.
Level
But the Giants were soon sparked into life as Brett Hemingway levelled the scores at 14.18 and Prudden edged Belfast ahead in the second period.
The home side kept the pressure on, going 4-2 ahead through Simon Lambert before Hemingway grabbed his second of the night to complete the scoring in the third period.
Dundee Stars moved seven points clear of Newcastle in the fight for the last play-off spot after a 5-3 win against
Hull Stingrays.
Jereme Tendler gave the Stingrays a perfect start as he fired home with only 23 seconds on the clock but the Stars got back on level terms through Tristan Harper later in the first period.
A quick-fire double from Brent Hughes and Dan Ceman in the opening stages of the second period then gave Dundee a 3-1 lead and Gary Wishart added another for the Scottish side shortly afterwards.
Tendler scored again to reduce the gap and Sylvain Cloutier then brought Hull within one goal, but AJ MacLean hit an empty net in the closing stages to kill the game off.
Depleted
Newcastle Vipers, who were competing with only 10 skaters, slumped to their fifth straight league defeat after a 4-0 defeat to
Coventry Blaze.
The Blaze, who notched their third win in a row and claimed a shutout with it, set the tone early on as Aaron Nell and Luke Fulghum put them two goals up inside five minutes.
Greg Owen scored the only goal of the second period on a shorthanded play and Nell netted a second to complete the scoring at 42.42.
