Quick goals help Devils past Panthers

Photos: Panthers' Images

Facing each other for the second time in less than 24 hours, Cardiff avenged the Panthers' win in Wales by beating Nottingham at the Motorpoint Arena.

Mark Matheson deflect in Sam Herr's shot with only 3:14 gone to give the Panthers an early lead, but it didn't last long - Blair Riley was able to strike back for the Devils 11 seconds later, in a move that came directly from the faceoff.

With 2:40 gone in period two Georgs Golovkovs finished off after Jake Hansen broke down the win to put the Panthers back ahead, and things got better for the hosts at 30:21 as William Quist finished off on the powerplay to put them 3-1 up. That two-goal lead however lasted all of 63 seconds. Matthew Myers got one back for the Devils at 31:05, and just over a minute later it was Masi Marjamaki putting home a rebound to tie the game.

Quick goals were the undoing of the Panthers in the third period, too. Matt Pope fired in a shot from the point at 50:38, and 50 seconds later a fine Joey Haddad individual effort put the Devils two ahead with a little over eight minutes to play.

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