Cardiff Devils 4 - Clan 5
February 5, 2012
Elite League leading scorer Jade Galbraith was a one-man wrecking crew as his hat trick and winning penalty shot ensured Clan won for the second time this season in Wales.
What a crazy game this one was as Clan led 3-0 at the first period break only to see Devils hit back in great style to lead 4-3 themselves with less than a minute left, only for Galbraith to send the game into overtime with 31 seconds remaining in regulation.
It had actually been the home side who started the better of the two teams but Clan took the lead at 9.01 with player/coach Drew Bannister on target. Clan then hit two goals in less than a minute to take charge, with Galbraith scoring both at 17.48 and 18.41.
The second period saw Devils dominate the shot count by 14 to 3 but the pressure only paid off once when Jeff Pierce netted at 26.07.
Into the third period and the home side came out flying, scoring three times in less than six minutes to edge ahead. Player/coach Gerad Adams started the run at 42.48 and further strikes came from Pierce at 45.09 and Scott Dobben at 48.43 for 4-3 Devils.
The game swung one way then the other as both sides went for it but it was when goaltender Jaakko Suomalainen was pulled for the extra skater that Clan tied it up with Galbraith completing his treble on the night at 59.29.
Overtime saw Devils pile on the pressure, outshooting Clan by 8 to 1 but they could not find a way past Clan’s Finnish backstop.
The shootout saw Jordan Krestanovich (Clan) and Kenton Smith (Devils) score in the initial three rounds of shots but in sudden death it was Galbraith on target with Smith unable to match it, giving the Scots side the extra point.
Period Scores: 0-3, 1-0, 3-1, 0-0, 0-1 (1-2)
Penalties: Car 6 – Bra 8
Powerplay: Car 0/3 – 0/2
Shots On: Stevie Lyle 32 – Jaakko Suomalainen 43
Referee: Michael Hicks
