The Belfast Giants lost 5-2 in a bad tempered Challenge Cup semi final 1st leg in Cardiff and will face a difficult task to reach the final .
Devils 5 - 2 Giants
Mark Smith opened the scoring for the home team on fourteen minutes only for the Giants defenceman Michael Jacobsen to even up the score at 1-1 with a powerplay goal three minutes later .
The last twenty seconds of the opening period provided the fireworks.
The Devils' Scott Romfo made it 2-1 on the night and with one second remaining in the period the Giants Sean McMorrow and Jeffrey Szwez dropped the gloves with Devils player coach Gerard Adams and Mike Hartwick.
The 2nd period only troubled the scoreboard once, Devils' Tylor Michel got the effort with the assists going to Ryan Finnerty and Max Birbraer.
Forty seconds into the final period Devils Captain Brad Voth linked up with Phil Hill and Ryan Finnerty to make the score 4-1, then Devils man of the match Max Birbraer fired past Giants netminder Stephen Murphy on 48.18 to make it 5-1.
The Giants pulled a goal back with 5 minutes left in the match from Jeffrey Szwez.
The return leg will take place at the Dundonald International Ice Bowl on Wednesday 20th January with the Giants facing an uphill fight to retain the trophy.
© UTV News