Having gotten off to perfect beginning with a 3-2 success over Mountfield HK, Cardiff had a real opportunity to mark their mark in Group H by recording a second victory on home ice.

First Period:

They hosts made the worst possible start however, putting themselves on the penalty kill two minutes in. Cardiff did return to full-strength but just two seconds later Trevor Hamilton netted for Graz 99ers.

Far from deterred, the Devils came roaring back and created a plethora of scoring chances.

Stephen Dixon failed to bury a rebound into an empty net following an initial effort by Masi Marjamaki.

A long range effort from Gleason Fournier then did find it’s way past Cristopher Nihlstorp but the puck bobbled in the blue paint and was duly scooped clear.

Further attempts by Same Jardine, Mark Richardson and Marjamaki were all turned aside as Graz led 1-0 after twenty minutes.

Second Period:

If anything Cardiff were even more dominant during the middle frame.

Despite once again finding themselves on the penalty kill early, the Devils stood firm and drew a penalty of their own as the penalty expired. Cardiff clung onto possession and tied the game with a goal worthy of their fine play.

An excellent zone entry from Fournier began the play but he would not receive an assist on the goal as Dixon and Charles Linglet combined before Sean Bentivoglio tucked home a rebound in tight.

The hosts were unable to make a second power play count, though did net a go-ahead goal at the 31 minute mark.

Swiftly capitalising on a cheap turnover by the visitors, Marjamaki and debutant Matias Sointu joined forces but ultimately it was left to Mark Louis of all people jumping into the play to score from the slot.

Roared on by a fervent home crowd, the Devils kept pouring forward and only a terrific save by Nihlstorp denied Marjamaki giving Cardiff a two-goal lead.

Instead it was the 99ers who would strike next.
With Cardiff on their heels and then forced to ice the puck, Graz won the resulting face-off and levelled the score through Philipp Lindner.

In-fact the game might have turned on it’s head had Ben Bowns not been sharp to deny the Austrian team taking the lead following a turnover by Blair Riley in the defensive zone.

With a little over four minutes remaining in the second period, Cardiff would re-take the lead with a goal seemingly out of nowhere.

Mike McNamee won possession in the neutral zone before proceeding to split the defense with a pinpoint backhand pass that sent Matthew Pope in alone on goal.
The latter’s effort was turned aside by the blocker of Nihlstorp but Pope did not give up on the play and teed up McNamee to score.

Third Period:

The next goal was always going to be vital and Cardiff almost doubled their lead following a gorgeous sequence of crisp passing from Fournier, Linglet and Joey Haddad.

The game became cagey as the home team dealt relatively comfortable with everything Graz could throw at them and the result was never in doubt until the officials twice penalised the Devils inside the final seven minutes.

Graz struck on their second man advantage as Trevor Hamilton topped and tailed the scoring in regulation with his second of the game and neither team could manage to find the net again to steal all three points.

Overtime:

Having looked by far the more impressive team during 5-on-5 action during regular, Cardiff comparatively struggled during the five minute overtime period.

Ben Bowns made a crucial double-save to deny Dwight King and Sean Bentivoglio performed admirable in the finals second without a stick – firstly making a huge hit along the boards and then blocking the final shot to ensure a shoot was required.

I’m personally no fan of the shootout but with both teams knowing the importance of the extra point, it was a tense battle with both goaltenders performing admirably.

It was left to Sean McMonagle to score the game winner and Ben Bowns to make seven saves to give Cardiff the crucial second point which sends them top of Group H.