Brandt scores twice as Devils come from behind late

Photo: James Assinder

Cardiff Devils came from two down to beat Fife Flyers on Saturday night in a thrilling contest at the Vindico Arena.

An entertaining opening period saw the Flyers take a one-goal lead into the first intermission. After early Devils pressure, Josh Winquist’s shot from the point was tipped in front by Milan Lucic to beat Christian Stoever at 6:51. Just over two minutes later, David Booth broke in alone behind the Devils’ defence and finished clinically to double the Flyers’ lead at 9:05.

Cardiff pulled one back just 71 seconds later on the power play, Kohen Olischefski finding the onrushing Riley Brandt, who beat Shane Owen to cut the deficit to one.

Booth almost restored Fife’s two-goal cushion early in the second period, but Stoever made a pair of good saves to keep the Devils in touch. Shane Owen then took centre stage at the other end, denying Cedric Lacroix at the far post after an unfortunate stick break for Ian Scheid, before producing a string of excellent saves including a stop on Ryan Barrow’s breakaway to keep the Flyers ahead after forty minutes.

Early in the third, the Flyers survived extended five-on-three pressure after a delay of game call was followed quickly by an illegal equipment penalty for using a broken stick penalty, killing off both minors.Booth struck again at 47:36, finishing high after a superb stretch pass to restore Fife’s two-goal advantage, while the visitors also hit the cross-bar on the next play.

Cardiff responded almost immediately, a Gleason Fournier shot deflecting in front to make it a one-goal game just 73 seconds later. With 8:57 remaining, the puck popped out to Brandt in the slot and he fired home to level the scores.

Ryan Barrow completed the comeback with 3:46 to play, scoring the Devils’ first lead of the night. Fife pulled Owen for the extra skater, but despite late pressure they could not find an equaliser as Cardiff held on for the win.