Cardiff Devils 4 Newcastle Vipers 3
Oct 28 2010 The Journal
(After overtime)
NEWCASTLE Vipers were just 58 seconds away from securing a point when Jon Pelle scored the powerplay goal that meant they travelled the long way back from Wales with nothing.
Forward Jamie Carroll was penalised for delaying the game with one minute and thirty three seconds remaining and the Vipers who are the worst penalty killers in the league, couldn't hold on for a regulation time draw.
Playing against the side that had beaten them 3-6 on their home ice four nights previously, the Vipers got off to a bad start but quickly recovered.
The team's most penalised players, defence John Schwarz was ordered off the ice for two minutes with the game just 44 seconds old and the penalty killing effort again let the Vipers down. There were 22 seconds left to kill when Max Birbraer fired the home side ahead.
It took the Vipers just 11 seconds short of a minute to reply with winger Jamie Carroll, more of a set up man than a scorer, hit his third goal and 12th point of the season to equalise.
Referee Tom Darnell was soon finding fault with another Viper as on four minutes another blueliner Blair Stayzer was occupying the away penalty box after being judge guilt of hooking.
The Vipers penalty killing units this time did their job and at 13.13 in the Vipers's 13th game, both penalty box doors were opening to admit two players who had fought each other, the Devils' Tylor Michel and Carroll, and been given five minutes to cool down.
At the same time Schwarz took his penalty minutes to 98 after being given a 2+10 for checking from behind and misconduct.
Three minutes afterwards Birbraer hit his second of the night to put the Devils back into a lead that was again destined to last under a minute as Dale Mahovsky restored parity.
His goal took him into double figures for the season (four plus six) but neither he nor the rest of his team-mates could add to their tallies when the Vipers operated an early middle period powerplay.
Nine minutes into the period the consequence of a hook on an opponent meant that bad boy Schwarz amassed 16 penalty minutes on the night and 100 for the season.
On the 30-minute mark, he was joined in the away penalty box by forward Toms Hartmanis but the Vipers were able to resist the overlapping powerplays.
Vipers' netminder Charlie Effinger made another 13 saves during the middle period to keep his team in the game.
At the other end Stevie Lyle had made 14 saves in 40 minutes and he was to be beaten by the 17th shot on his goal. The puck hit the back of the net just 11 seconds into the final period with Forsbacka scoring his ninth goal of the season to put the Vipers ahead for the first time.
For a third time in the match though, the advantage was quickly wiped out, this time while the Vipers were on a powerplay. Scott Matzk shot home the shorthanded marker on 43 minutes.
The Vipers had another powerplay opportunity on 49 minutes when Tylor Michel was ordered off the ice for roughing but the visitors couldn't make it third time lucky while icing one more skater.
DEVILS: Burbraer 2+0, Pelle 1+3, Matzka 1+2, , K. Smith 0+2.
VIPERS: Forsbacka 1+2, Carroll 1+1,Mahovsky 1+0, Hartmanis, Schwarz and Stayzer 0+1.
