Cardiff Devils enjoyed an excellent weekend, recording a pair of Elite Challenge Cup victories over Coventry Blaze and Sheffield Steelers.

Joey Martin and Andrew Hotham both scored twice in Devils’ 6-3 home win against Blaze, and Martin was on target again during his team’s 5-3 road victory against the Steelers.

Alex Nikiforuk (2) topped the scoring for Nottingham Panthers in their 4-3 home win over the Steelers in the cup, and Corey Neilson’s team followed up with a 5-3 success at Coventry to stay top of the league standings.

Edinburgh Capitals continued their recent resurgence with two victories, winning 3-2 after overtime at Fife Flyers in the cup and 3-2 after a shoot-out at home to Manchester Storm in the league.

Brett Switzer’s overtime strike sealed a 4-3 cup win for Dundee Stars at Belfast Giants and they made it four-point weekend with a 2-0 home success against the Flyers.

Matt Beca hit a hat-trick for Braehead in their 5-3 league victory at Manchester, but Clan couldn’t follow up in the cup at home to the Giants – David Rutherford grabbed the deciding goal in a 3-2 win.

WEEKEND RESULTS

Saturday

Belfast Giants 3-4 Dundee Stars (OT) (Cup)
Cardiff Devils 6-3 Coventry Blaze (Cup)
Manchester Storm 3-5 Braehead Clan
Fife Flyers 2-3 Edinburgh Capitals (OT) (Cup)
Nottingham Panthers 4-3 Sheffield Steelers (Cup)

Sunday

Braehead Clan 2-3 Belfast Giants (SO) (Cup)
Coventry Blaze 3-5 Nottingham Panthers
Dundee Stars 2-0 Fife Flyers (Cup)
Edinburgh Capitals 3-2 Manchester Storm (SO)
Sheffield Steelers 3-5 Cardiff Devils (Cup)

(Image permission: Richard Murray)