Continental Cup: Cardiff Devils end with Herning Blue Fox defeat as Nomad Astana lift trophy
- Published
The Cardiff Devils conceded 11 goals in their three Continental Cup games
Cardiff Devils finished their IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation) Continental Cup campaign with a 4-3 loss to Herning Blue Fox of Denmark.
Defeat sees the Devils finish the competition in third place, with Nomad Astana of Kazakhstan crowned champions.
Cardiff and Herning both scored twice in the first period before Blue Fox took a 3-2 lead after 23 minutes.
Cole Ully's drew Cardiff level but Morten Poulsen's power-play goal sealed second place for the Danish side.
Devils' hopes of winning the European competition were already dashed by Saturday evening, as two wins for Astana had put them out of sight.
Even if results had gone differently on Sunday, the Kazakhstan side would have held a better head-to-head record against the Devils courtesy of Friday's 5-2 win.
Nonetheless, Devils started Sunday's finale brightly - Tyler Busch given them the lead midway through the first period.
But the lead lasted less than 20 seconds, and three minutes later Andris Dzerins scored Herning's second of the night to give them a lead for the first time.
Ully levelled for the Devils before the first period came to an end, and the Canadian was on hand again late in the second period to tie the game once more following Victor Cubars' goal.
But the Devils could not find a way past 18-year-old goalkeeper Valdemar Andersen in the final period, as Poulsen's goal gave Blue Fox a third lead of the evening which they held onto.
Earlier on Sunday, Nomad Astana finished their campaign with a 3-1 win over GKS Katowice to see out the Continental Cup with a third victory.
IIHF Continental Cup 2024 final round matches at Vindico Arena, Cardiff:
Friday, 12 January
GKS Katowice 5-4 (SO) Herning Blue Fox
Nomad Astana 5-2 Cardiff Devils
Saturday, 13 January
Herning Blue Fox 2-7 Nomad Astana
GKS Katowice 2-3 Cardiff Devils
Sunday, 14 January
Nomad Astana 3-1 GKS Katowice
Cardiff Devils 3-4 Herning Blue Fox