EIHL: Cardiff Devils denied a Coventry Blaze fightback to win on Thursday
Last Updated: January 31, 2013 11:18pm
Paul Thompson: Side showed character in defeat
Cardiff Devils picked up a 4-3 overtime victory over Coventry Blaze in the only Elite League action on Thursday night.
Devils were 3-0 up just after the start of the second period after Chris Blight (10.03 powerplay) and Ben Davies (12.04) netted before Jesse Gimblett added a third.
But James Griffin scored his first goal of the season to give the visitors hope right at the end of the second session.
Greg Leeb then bagged a third-period brace (42.50 and 51.44) which forced a Devils time-out, but the hosts won it in overtime through captain Stuart MacRae at 61.30.
Coach Paul Thompson said: "For 30 minutes we were scrambling and I thought we were dead and buried. Peter Hirsch kept us in it and he energised us.
"We showed a lot of character to fight back to 3-3 and the boys are absolutely gutted to lose it in overtime. But it is a step forward."
