GLASGOW CLAN VS CARDIFF DEVILS (PLAYOFF SF)

The Premier Sports sponsored Glasgow Clan were defeated in the EIHL playoff semi final by a determined Cardiff Devils side despite a tight competitive tie in Glasgow’s first appearance at the final four in 12 years.

Brett Neumann had the first chance of the game when a turnover at the blue line allowed Glasgow a quick break and Neumann parked right at the edge of the crease but couldn’t control the puck when it came his way as he whiffed it wide.

It looked as though playoff jitters were having an effect early in the game as Cole Sanford then failed to keep a hold of the puck all alone in the slot on a wide-open chance.

Gleason Fournier played a perfect pass through traffic to Jimmy Oligny at the backdoor but his first-time shot was gobbled up by Sami Aittokallio who was on a hot start.

Aittokallio’s form got Glasgow into the first break tied at zero despite Riley Brandt coming just inches away from finding the opener in the final minute of the frame, denied only by his own inaccuracy.

Connor Caponi did break the deadlock in the second period though as he got on the end of Ben Davies’ stretch pass from right wing and poked a low shot into the Clan net just five minutes into the frame.

Jason Fram instantly put Glasgow back level with a first-time slam from the backdoor after Neumann created space up the right side but a Brandon Estes snipe nullified the equaliser just 38 seconds later.

After three goals in 90 seconds early in the period, the action didn’t slow down with Joey Martin being denied on a great breakaway opportunity bef0re Mick Messner cannoned a shot off the post at the other end.

Riley Brandt pulled off a nice move at the blue line to set himself up for a breakaway but he couldn’t beat the blocker of Aittokallio as the Finn sent his effort wide to head into the break one behind.

Neumann was denied in the third period by an early whistle as he followed in on Langan’s chance in the crease and wrapped a rebound around Christian Stoever to put Glasgow back level but the officials had already blew the play dead.

Josh MacDonald ripped a shot from the slot which struck the post but narrowly stayed out as the third period saw little offensive action with Cardiff boxing out the Clan to hold on for the win.

A Joey Martin empty net goal in the final minute closed out the game with a 3-1 score line in favour of the Devils, residing Glasgow to the 1pm faceoff tomorrow to battle for bronze.