Devils lose to Lightning in Challenge Cup match

The Devils were haunted by former players on Saturday night as they lost 5-2 to the Lightning in Milton Keynes.

Former Devil Guillaume Doucet opened the scoring for the Lightning on the powerplay at 7:07 of the first period.  The Devils tied the game at 18:27 when Joey Martin set up Patrick Asselin to make it 1-1, which is how the score remained after 20 minutes of play.

The middle period belonged to the home side as the Lightning threw 26 shots at Ben Bowns and scored 3 times to take control of the game.  First it was another former Devil Carl Hudson who made it 2-1 just 2:29 into the period, then a powerplay goal from yet another former Devil, Denny Kearney, with Hudson and Doucet picking up the assists at 27:39.  Kearney scored a second goal at 32:26 with Doucet picking up another assist on the play to make it 4-1 for the Lightning after 40 minutes of play.

The Devils came out flying in the final period and scored early when Layne Ulmer set up Sean Bentivoglio at 43:12 to make it 4-2.  They continued to press, but despite some good chances, it was the Lightning who scored next at 56:31 when Ludwig Karlsson finished off a pass from Christian Isackson to round out the scoring at 5-2.

The Devils will be disappointed with the lost opportunities on the powerplay, going 0 for 5 with the man advantage, while the Lightning scored 2 PP goals on 4 chances.

Photo: MK Lightning Photography