The Devils relinquished a five-goal lead to lose 8-6 to the Fife Flyers on Saturday Night
The Devils took an early lead when Andrew Hotham scored on the powerplay just 55 seconds into the game. Hotham scored his 2nd of the game at 6:49 to give the Devils a 2-0 lead, then at 8:02 Josh Batch scored to make it 3-0. The Flyers pulled one back with a powerplay goal at 11:17 from Carlo Finucci to make it 3-1, which is how the first period ended.
The Devils looked to be in complete control midway through the game after scoring another two goals, first from Joey Martin on the powerplay at 21:49 then from Bryce Reddick at 28:13, but then the wheels came off for the Devils. It started with Drew Paris being called for a 5 minute major plus a game misconduct for checking to the head. The resulting powerplay saw the Flyers score 3 times, once with the Devils down 5 on 3, then twice with them just one man down, but after the penalty was over, the score was 5-4. Goals from Danick Gauthier at 31:09, Chase Schaber at 32:58 and Finucci with his 2nd of the game at 34:56 pulled the Flyers within one after 40 minutes of play.
The third period, the Devils got a two-goal lead back when Justin Faryna scored at 41:41 on the powerplay to make it 6-4, but then it was all Flyers. The Devils gave up a shorthanded goal at 45:52 to Evan Bloodoff, then Danick Gauthier scored back to back powerplay goals at 48:56 and 50:13 to tie the game and then put the Flyers ahead for the first time. Gauthier finished the game off with an empty net goal at 59:46 to complete a 3rd period hat-trick and a 4-goal game.
The Devils powerplay was 3 for 9 on the night, but it was the penalty kill that let them down. The Flyers scored 6 powerplay goals out of 7 opportunities to complete the comeback and shock the near sell-out crowd at Ice Arena Wales.
Photo: Helen Brabon
