REPORT: Devils edge Clan in tight Cardiff contest

It wasn’t to be for Aspray Glasgow West sponsored Glasgow Clan as Cardiff Devils done enough to claim the points in a 3-1 win at Ice Arena Wales.

It was another game that was tightly contested and with Cardiff having lost their last two games and Clan keen to build on their five wins from the last six, it was always likely to be the case.

Clan pushed Jamie Crooks into the top line while Colton Waltz made his debut after signing during the week as they lined up slightly differently for this latest visit to Ice Arena Wales.

Brock Beukeboom went close with a low chance, as Devils goalie Mac Carruth pulled off a good low save.

Then Brodie Reid and Stephen Dixon did their best to try and jam the puck past Shane Starrett in the Clan net, but getting no reward. A follow shot from the latter was also denied.

Guillaume Gauthier’s shot flashed across the Devils crease as Clan burst forward on a turnaround then Cole Sanford saw big chance denied by Starrett, who look in top form again.

However the home side finally broke the deadlock when a huge drive from Matt Register on the powerplay layered into the Clan net and Devils got their noses in front.

Mark Richardson rolled back the years shortly after, going coast to coast and looked to find a gap to the left of the Clan goalie, but the door was slammed on him.

However, a small flashpoint saw Nolan LaPorte and Carruth come together near the end of the second to add some spice to the game.

Devils added a second in the early stages of the third as Reid sent a shot in at the angle, taking the pass perfectly from Justin Crandall.

Clan reacted by pulling one back a minute or so later when Mikko Vainonen stopped the puck from leaving the Devils zone, taking it forward and finishing a shot to halve the deficit.

Gauthier almost levelled with ten to go as the visitors looked to put the pressure on in a powerplay, but hit the post to deny an equaliser before Mitch Jones hit the bar a minute later.

Reid wrapped it up with an empty net goal late on to secure the points for Cardiff in the final minute.