Neumann hits shootout winner for leaders

Photo: James Assinder

League leaders Glasgow Clan picked up an impressive road win in Cardiff, edging the Devils 3-2 after a shootout at the Vindico Arena.

“It was a tough game in a really tough place to play,” began Brett Neumann, who scored the only goal in the shootout. “There wasn’t a lot of space out there – both teams had good structure and played strong defensively, so it was a battle. When you get a chance, you have to take it. A few we wished had bounced differently for us, but we stuck with it, played solid defensively, and I was lucky enough to come in and execute in the shootout.”

Sami Aittokallio made 49 saves in the Clan net to help them to their win.

Ben Davies opened the scoring for the Devils at 11:38, redirecting Mark Richardson’s shot past Aittokallio. The lead lasted just three minutes before Deven Sideroff tied things up, bouncing the puck off Ben Bowns’ pads and into the net at 14:38.

Cardiff regained the lead less than a minute later when Josh MacDonald finished off a neat passing play with Tyson Helgesen and Joey Martin at 15:31 to send the hosts into the break ahead.

“We know we’re never out of it. We’ve had a lot of comeback wins so far this season, and that’s given us a lot of belief in our group – it means we don’t quit," added Neumann. "Tonight was a good example of sticking with it and battling right to the end. It was two good hockey teams playing hard.”

Tristin Langan brought the Clan level again at 27:37, sweeping in a loose puck in front of the net for the only goal of the second period. Despite late Devils pressure in the third, Aittokallio made a spectacular diving save to deny Cole Sanford in the third and keep the game tied.

Neither side could find a winner in overtime, and it took a shootout to separate them. Brett Neumann scored the only goal of the ten attempts to secure the extra point for the Clan.

"I’ve got a couple of moves I’ve used over and over in my career, so tonight was one where I kind of knew what I was doing on the way in," revealed Neumann. "I try to look at the goalie and see where the gap is – I practice it a lot and lucky tonight I executed it!"