After a significant delay for ice repair to get the night underway, the game finally reached the closing stages on a 1-1 tie with Cardiff Devils where, with less than 3 minutes remaining, Jarrod Gourley bagged the winner ahead of an empty net follow up to secure a 3-1 defeat of the Flames on Spectrum ice.
Devils struck first with Zack O’Brien sending them to an early lead and they played out the remaining 15 minutes holding that score.
Just over 5 minutes into the middle set, Dan Catenacci squared it and as the first that was the only scoring of the frame to set up a winner take all 3rd.
About halfway through the final set, the visitors were assessed a 5 minute major penalty and game misconduct to Andrew MacWilliam to give Flames their best opportunity for a lead, but a stingy Devils penalty kill closed it out, leaving the even score on the board down the final stretch of regulation. Unfortunately, for the home team, Devils followed up with the decider off Gourley’s stick at 57:24 before O’Brien’s 2nd into the vacated cage completed the long evening.
“First of all, thanks to Spectrum for helping make sure we got the game in with their diligence in getting the ice repair done to get us going after a considerable delay,” said Paul Dixon.
“It is tough for players and fans wondering if the game will proceed when you have an issue like that, but not easy for the people in charge of handling it either so we really appreciate everyone who contributed to making sure the game could be played in the end,”
“As for the game, it ended in frustrating fashion obviously. Special teams had a chance to help us to a win, in this case with the late major penalty, and just not able to get find a way through and Devils waited for their chance and made it happen not long after that,” said Paul Dixon.
“When we have such opportunities, they are often the difference in a game and while you are not always going to score on them we have had several in recent matches and we have not taken our chances on any of them so we need to be better in that area.”
“It’s a tough way to lose to a good hockey team, but we will get back to training this week and see what we can do to turn the next result in our favour.”
