Blaze survive Devils barrage to keep Elite League lead

ELITE League leaders Coventry Blaze were pushed hard by Cardiff Devils before emerging 5-2 winners in a scoreline that flattered.

Peter Hirsch saved all but two of the 42 attempts on his goal as Gerad Adams's side threw everything at their rivals.

Max Birbraer opened the scoring for Cardiff but Coventry's Luke Fulghum, whose contribution was to prove decisive, netted two goals in 44 seconds to put his side in front.

Fulghum went on to complete his hat-trick as Blaze closed out the victory.

Coventry were also boosted by the defeat of title rivals Belfast Giants, who slipped to a 3-2 loss at struggling Hull Stingrays.

Konstantin Kalmikov, Jeff Glowa and Pavel Gomenyuk netted for Hull while Nottingham Panthers beat Sheffield Steelers 5-2, their fifth straight win against their arch-rivals.

Elsewhere, the Edinburgh Capitals enjoyed a 5-4 overtime win at the Newcastle Vipers.