Elite League round-up November 12
7:05am Sunday 13th November 2011 in Sport By Nigel McFarlane
Elite League round-up November 12
ELITE LEAGUE ICE HOCKEY:
A round up of Saturday's games in the Elite Ice Hockey League.
Belfast Giants 1 Cardiff Devils 2
Cardiff, with only their second win on the road, gained revenge over Belfast who have already beaten the Devils team twice in the Welsh Capital.
The visitors netted the only goal of a pretty even first period as Phil Hill was on hand to strike home at 10.34.
Giants restored equality with a powerplay goal from Jeff Mason at 25.49. However, within a minute Devils restored their lead with a strike from Kenton Smith at 26.40.
Giants had more of the game in the third period as they pushed forward for an equaliser. Even with pulling goaltender Stephen Murphy towards the end the goal eluded them and Cardiff skated off with the points.
Braehead Clan 10 Fife Flyers 1
Braehead kept up their impressive home form as they chalked up win number seven out of eight. As for Fife, it was unlucky thirteen as they lost their thirteenth league game. Mike Bayrack who missed the start of the season because of visa problems is making up for lost time as he netted four.
With just over four minutes played Clan player/coach Drew Bannister put his side in front with the goal timed at 4.13. The hosts doubled their lead with a strike from Mike Bayrack at 14.04. Jade Galbraith who was playing in his 200th competitive Elite game added a third for the Clan at 17.25.
With his second goal of the game, Mike Bayrack added a fourth for the hosts at 30.47. The Clan went nap as captain Jordan Krestanovich found the net at 34.28. Inside the final minute of the second period, the hosts added a further two goals Brock McPherson was on target at 39.08 and then Bayrack completed his hat trick at 19.31.
Man of the match Bayrack was on fire and at 41.12 he added his fourth and the home sides eighth. Goal number nine was not far away and at 45.09 Jade Galbraith got his second of the game.
Flyers got a consolation goal as Matt Cohen netted on the powerplay at 47.02. The Clan hit double figures as Galbraith completed his hat-trick with a powerplay goal at 56.08.
Dundee Stars 2 Edinburgh Capitals 3 (After Overtime)
A goal in overtime from Capitals top scorer Rene Jarolin gave the Capitals the extra point in the East of Scotland derby. The Capitals were once again without number one goaltender Nathan Craze.
The visitors opened the scoring with the only goal of the first period with a powerplay goal converted by Jozef Sladok at 8.29.
The hosts got back on level terms with a strike from Ross McIntosh at 28.59. This was how it remained after 40 minutes of play.
Two goals 43 seconds apart saw the Capitals regain the lead with a strike from Bari McKenzie at 43.47. However, this was quickly cancelled out as Stars player/coach Dan Ceman made it two apiece at 44.21.
With no further goals the game went into overtime time and at 62.44 Jarolin hit home the game winner.
Nottingham Panthers 1 Sheffield Steelers 0
This was a huge win for the Panthers as they went into this game level on points with Sheffield. However, they had played 4 more games. A win was vital for the home side as defeat would have seen them 2 points behind and Sheffield would still have those four games in hand.
The visitors had the early advantage to get in front, as Panthers Jeff Heerema was dispatched on a five plus game for cross checking at 6.49. However, the visitors were unable to take advantage of the five minute powerplay and the period ended goalless.
The deadlock was finally broken with a powerplay goal from David Clark at 29.35. Despite both teams creating chances this was the only goal of the period and it was all to play for in the third period.
The third period ended goalless and Panthers held on to take the points and go clear in second place in the league. With Craig Kowalski picking up his fifth shut out of the season (his second against Sheffield) turning away all 30 shots.
Challenge Cup Group B
Hull Stingrays 2 Coventry Blaze 2
South Korean Woo-Sang Park made his debut for the Coventry Blaze in this game against Hull, where both teams were fighting to avoid the wooden spoon in Group B as neither of them could qualify for the semi-finals.
Only the one goal separated the teams after the first session and it came the way of the home team as Dominic Osman scored at 8.26.
Again there was only the one goal in the second period and it saw the hosts doubled their lead with a strike from Jereme Tendler at 36.07 The Blaze pulled one back with a 5 on 3 powerplay goal from Matic Kralj at 47.28 to make it a one goal game. Shea Guthrie tied the game up at 54.02 to give both teams a point each.
