After last weekend’s double header in Belfast the Storm returned home to face the Cardiff Devils on Saturday night at the Shelter.

Storm came out all guns blazing in the opening moments coming close on multiple occasions but it was the Devils who struck first within two minutes. Kontos tipping in a shot from Barrow at the blue line. Not long after a second for the visitors came from Fournier assisted by Sanford and Martin. The Storm responded positively and just twenty seconds later halved the deficit when Jenion latched on to the puck and fired home after a scramble out in front of Bowns. The game settled down somewhat following the early flurry of goals and the period ended with Cardiff up by one.

The middle period started much like the first with an early goal from the Devils – one timed nicely by Fournier assisted by Lacroix who did the hard work skating up the wing and firing across the pass. Again, Storm struck back quickly, this time on a 5v3 powerplay as Welsh released a clever shot which sailed past Bowns who was screened by several players. A second powerplay goal for the Storm at the midway point levelled the game at three apiece when another long range shot from Welsh hit the back of the net. Assisted on the build up by Gilmour and Ergang.

Another early goal got the third underway as Olischefski tipped in a shot from the point by Mosey making it a 3-4 scoreline. Critchlow’s Storm once again steadied the ship and found their rhythm in the latter stages of the period. With seven left in the game captain Locke unleashed a powerful slap shot which lasered past a flailing Bowns to level the score once more. Both netminders were found in good form late on making some impressive saves to keep the game tied – resulting in a tense 3v3 overtime period. It took just thirty seconds for the game winner as Cutler roofed the puck high above Bowns to send the home fans home happy with a 5-4 scoreline.

Words by: Kristian Stokwisz