The Cardiff Devils coughed up a one goal lead not once, but twice, falling 3-2 to the Coventry Blaze in a brutal Challenge Cup game at the Skydome Arena. What a gut punch, especially after the Blaze got absolutely smoked 6-0 just 24 hours earlier by the Sheffield Steelers. Talk about turning things around!
Devils Blow Leads, Blaze Mount Comeback
Man, what even happened out there? The Devils started off hot, with Bayley Harewood, playing in his first full-time season, netting his first Elite League goal to get us on the board. But Griffin Ness quickly leveled things for the Blaze, making it 1-1 after the first period. Then Kohen Olischefski put the Welsh side back in front in the second period, and you thought, “Okay, this is it, we’re taking control.” Except, that wasn’t the only major event in the second period. Forward Riley Brandt got tossed from the game with a major penalty for fighting! Seriously, in a tight game like that, you gotta keep your cool.
The third period rolled around, and sure enough, Ryan Richardson tied it up on a power play. You could just feel the momentum shifting. Then, with barely four minutes left, Carson Musser delivered the knockout blow for the Blaze, sealing the crazy comeback win.
Coach’s Frustration and Early Group Standings
Devils’ head coach Paul Thompson didn’t mince words after the game, talking about the “tough conditions” and how “the ice was terrible” all night. He said it was hard to play their game, but also admitted it was “for both teams.” Thompson knows you gotta “take your chances when they come along.” We just didn’t get that crucial 3-1 goal that might’ve sealed it, and Thompson even gave “credit to the Blaze for coming back.”
After the opening weekend, the Sheffield Steelers are sitting pretty at the top of Group A. They stomped the Blaze 6-0, then followed it up with a shoot-out win against Guildford. Nottingham Panthers are second, even though their game against Manchester Storm got called off because of “technical issues with the ice” at the AO arena. The Blaze are somehow now third after that comeback, and our Devils are chilling in fourth.
Next up, the Devils are due to host the Manchester Storm this Friday, September 18th. Let’s hope the ice conditions are better, and more importantly, they can hold onto a lead this time. We need to climb out of fourth place, big time.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply