Fife Flyers’ boss Todd Dutiaume says he was pleased with his team’s spirit after seeing them dominated by Cardiff Devils during the first period of Sunday’s Elite League game.

Devils went 3-0 up inside the first nine minutes as Flyers struggled to contain the hosts, but Nico Sacchetti’s 26th minute goal gave them renewed hope.

Flyers then had a goal washed out, with the nets coming off as the puck went in, and Devils took advantage late in the second period to make it 4-1.

Dutiaume said: “That was a big turning point. You are always under pressure here, and we knew what to expect, but we clawed them back well in the second, and had that goal stood then 3-2 becomes a different game.

“But Cardiff are a very, very good team so credit to our guys for fighting back. That encouraged me, and we have to build on that.

“We’ve had a busy month which we cap with three games in three days this weekend. We’ve got a difficult end to the season, but we’re looking to finish as high up the table as we can.”

Devils’ Player/Coach Andrew Lord had targeted a fast start against the Flyers, as he looked for his team to bounce back from Saturday’s 3-2 defeat against title rivals Sheffield Steelers.

He said: “Those first ten minutes were special with Martin, Doucet and Salters playing so well together. It’s fun when they connect like that, playing hard and seeing the game that way.

“Our defeat in Sheffield was incredibly frustrating and it fuelled us. We really thought we were going to make it happen in Sheffield and didn’t.

“It wasn’t just the defeat, but how we played as a team.”

(Image permission: Helen Brabon)