Devils fall just short for third successive season

The Cardiff Devils suffered Elite League play-off heartbreak for the third consecutive season as they lost 2-0 to the Nottingham Panthers yesterday.

The Devils had the opportunity to end what has been a tumultuous season – which included the departure of Cardiff’s forward and former captain, Canadian Brad Voth – on a high after beating the league-winning Belfast Giants on Saturday.

Nottingham Panthers' opening scorer, Canadian David-Alexandre Beauregard, in his days at the Tulsa Oilers in the Central Hockey League in the US. Picture: Flickr, Les Stockton

But the Panthers, who beat the Devils in a high-scoring play-off final last season, ended two periods of stalemate at the National Ice Centre yesterday afternoon by hitting a third-period double to clinch the title.