Cardiff Devils ended Belfast Giants' four-game winning run in emphatic fashion on Saturday night, coming from behind to win 5-2 at the SSE Arena in front of 7,214. Ryan Barrow opened the scoring inside 90 seconds and returned in the second to put Cardiff back ahead — and once Sanford added his name to the scoresheet twice in the third, the Giants' hopes were gone.
Belfast had drawn level twice, but Cardiff were the better side for long stretches and the final scoreline was a fair reflection of the evening. An empty net goal from Josh MacDonald in the closing minute put the gloss on a well-earned away win.
Barrow strikes early — Giants level at the death
Cardiff were the quicker side from the off. Ryan Barrow scored inside 90 seconds — assisted by Brett Ferguson and Mark Richardson — to give the Devils a lead that Belfast would have been desperate to cancel before the first interval.
They managed it, just barely. Scott Conway equalised at exactly 19:00, right at the end of the period, from Mike Lee and Karl Boudrias. It was the last action of the first twenty minutes, and it sent both sides into the break level at 1-1 — though Cardiff had largely dictated the pace.
The second period was edgier. Gleason Fournier was penalised for boarding at 26:31, and while Belfast couldn't convert the power play, Carsen Twarynski's interference penalty at 32:14 handed Cardiff their own opportunity. Barrow made it count, scoring his second at 35:27 — Jimmy Oligny assisting — to restore the Devils' lead at 2-1.
Belfast's response was immediate. Ryan Smith levelled with an unassisted goal at 39:21 to make it 2-2, and the SSE Arena came alive. With five goals across the first two periods and momentum swinging repeatedly, the third period was set up as a genuine contest.
Cardiff had other ideas.
The third period belonged entirely to Cardiff. Sanford put them ahead for the first time at 42:56 — Kristoff Kontos assisting — and when Ben Lake was penalised for tripping at 51:57, Sanford converted on the power play at 52:15 from Josh MacDonald's assist to make it 4-2. That was effectively the game.
Belfast pulled their goalkeeper in the final three minutes, called a timeout at 58:39 — but MacDonald had the last word, slotting into the empty net at 59:16 to complete a 5-2 scoreline that sent Cardiff's travelling support home very happy.
For Ben Bowns in the Cardiff goal, it was a solid evening — he held firm through the periods when Belfast were pushing for levellers, and the Giants couldn't find a way past him when it mattered. Jake Kupsky, who started in goal for Belfast and returned for the final seconds after the empty net switch, will be frustrated by three goals conceded in the third having kept things competitive through the first forty minutes.
Giant's run ends — Cardiff pick up momentum
Belfast had won four in a row coming into this one and remain a formidable team at home — but Cardiff arrived in form themselves, having taken an overtime win in their most recent outing, and showed the quality to travel and win convincingly.
For Barrow in particular, two goals at the SSE Arena is a strong individual return. Sanford's brace in the third period — including the power play goal that killed the contest — capped a performance that gives Cardiff genuine confidence heading forward.