The NIHL2 Bristol Honda Pitbulls endured a tough night as Cardiff Fire became the first visiting team to win a game at Planet Ice Bristol across all leagues by beating their hosts 5-0.
After losing by a single goal to Cardiff in the season opener, this game was expected to be close. And, indeed, the game was very even across the first two periods.
Cardiff took early control of the game when Lewis Stevens scored after just 3:56. Bristol were given chances at the other end of the ice but just couldn’t find the quality needed in their final touch to beat Cardiff goalie, Ben Scanlan. Indeed, Scanlan would finish the night on a 51-shot shut-out.
Even in the goalless second period, there was little to warn of Bristol’s upcoming third period collapse. If anything there was much to be hopeful for as Cardiff started to pick up a stream of penalties after half-distance. Four of Cardiff’s nine penalties came in the second half of the period but Bristol struggled to consistently make the man advantage work for them.
The third period quickly became 20 minutes of hockey that the team would rather forget.
Just seven seconds into the period, Cardiff doubled their lead with a short-handed goal by Kristians Kasjanovs that seemed to shake the confidence of Bristol.
With a further five minor penalties called on the visitors in the final period, they spent little time at full strength. They only really had three short spells between penalties where they were at full strength, but managed to find a goal in each of them. Sam Bryant picked up a brace before Kajanovs completed the scoring with his second.
For Bristol, 23 of their 51 shots came in this period alone as the amount of time spent with a man advantage gave them considerable control of the game. But, every time they got a shot on goal, they were stonewalled by a goalie up to the task.
You must be logged in to post a comment.