Manchester Storm continued their push towards the top four with a one-goal win over Cardiff Devils in Altrincham on Saturday night, their second victory over the Devils this season.
The night began with both netminders turning aside all early offence, before a lapse in Manchester’s defensive positioning opened up a lane for a pinpoint pass that sent Josh MacDonald in on a breakaway. MacDonald faked Drew DeRidder before sliding the puck bar-down to give the Devils a 1-0 lead. Manchester pushed late in the period, with an opportunistic wraparound chance, but Ben Bowns sealed the post to preserve Cardiff’s advantage heading into the second.
The middle frame was a back-and-forth affair, continuing a recurring theme between these two sides this season with plenty of rush chances. Cardiff enjoyed success in the faceoff circle and continued to test DeRidder with shots, but it was Storm who found the only goal of the period. Left unmarked in the slot, Brady Gilmour was given time to pick his spot, shooting short side over the pad and under the glove of Bowns to tie the game at 1-1 at 27:23.
Storm came out flying in the third and created a grade-A chance just five minutes in, which Bowns denied with his glove while sprawled on his side. After failing to convert on a 4-on-3 power play, Storm eventually broke through at 5-on-4. JD Dudek cut cleanly around a Devils defender and crashed the net, stuffing the puck home to give the hosts their first lead of the night at 51:28.
In the end, the one-goal margin proved enough for Storm. Cardiff pressed hard in the closing minutes but were unable to convert on several late chances, including a missed open net from a tight angle in the final seconds.
Photo: Mark Ferris