Ice Hockey: Devils crush Panthers again

Nov 12 2007 by Terry Phillips, South Wales Echo

CARDIFF Devils stormed to a seventh successive Elite League win last night against one of their biggest rivals.

The Devils and Panthers are the two in-form teams in Britain and Cardiff have now crushed the English team twice in a week.

They won 2-1 at Nottingham’s rink and then took things a stage farther at the Cardiff Bay rink.

It was a match which had everything - atmosphere, goals, fights and a high level of intensity.

Cardiff have lost only once in their last 11 matches and are brimming with confidence.

Cheer leaders, drums and around 1,500 fans lifted the atmosphere and the Devils players turned on the style.

They now stand third in the Elite League, having moved ahead of Sheffield Steelers, and are only three points behind leaders Coventry Blaze.

Man of the match Matus Petricko scored twice, Tyson Teplitsky, Brad Voth, Mike Prpich and Max Bibraer once each. Two of the goals were shorthanded.

Prpich weighed in with a goal, an assist and a fight which left him with a cut to his face. He took on Kevin Bergin as Panthers tried to break things up. Bergin, much the bigger man, landed a big blow and Prpich, gutsy and full of fight, landed his own bombs as he held his own. There was no doubt Brad Voth won his latest encounter with Nottingham hard-man Ryan Shmyr, who was hanging on as Cardiff man Voth gained the upper hand and tipped both of them onto the ice to end the fight.

“The fun is back,” said Devils’ player-coach Gerad Adams. "The hockey is exciting and the fans are fabulous.

“Devils supporters are the best. They lift the team with their cheers, chants and the drumming. They give us an edge.

“The atmosphere is getting back to what it was in the old rink - and that's a big plus for us.”

Cardiff Devils defeated Manchester Phoenix 5-3 away on Saturday and then crushed Nottingham last night.

Now they fly to Northern Ireland for their match against Belfast Giants on Thursday, followed by a home match against Manchester Phoenix on Saturday (7pm) and a trip to Edinburgh Sunday.

Statistics v Nottingham last night: Scorers, Devils: Matus Petricko 2+0; Tyson Teplitsky 1+2; Mike Prpich 1+1; Brad Voth 1+2; Max Birbraer 1+1; Mike Garrow 0+2; Sylvain Deschatelets 0+1; Phil Hill 0+1; Jason Stone 0+1

Panthers: Patrik Wallenberg 1+0; Sean McAslan 1+0; Kevin Bergin 0+1; Matt Myers 0+1

Period scores: 1-1; 3-0 (4-1); 2-1 (6-2).

Shots on Goal: Panthers (on Osaer) 7+7+6=20; Devils (on Panthers) 11+8+17=36

Penalty Minutes: Devils 2+18+14=34; Panthers 2+12+10=24

Statistics v Manchester Phoenix:

Scorers, Phoenix: Hand 1+2, Tallari 2+1, Passmore 0+2.

Devils: Birbraer 2+1, Deschatelets 1+1, Petricko 1+0, Silverthorn 1+1, Voth 0+1, Stone 0+1.

Period scores (Manchester first): 1-2; 0-1 (1-3); 2-2 (3-5).

Shots on goal: Phoenix 8+11+0=19 Devils: 14+4+0=18

Penalty Minutes: Phoenix 6+4+12=22 Devils: 8+10+16=34.

Man of the match: Max Birbraer.