Cardiff Devils edge past Coventry Blaze

Cardiff Devils edged past visitors Coventry Blaze as their Elite League (EIHL) campaign kicked off with a 3-0 win in the Welsh capital.

Joey Martin made a perfect return after four weeks out with a broken foot, putting the Devils ahead inside the first four minutes.

The game however remained intensely tight with no further goals until the dying minutes when the visitors pulled their netminder for an extra skater in chase of an equaliser.

Instead Cardiff took advantage of the empty net as Brett Perlini fed Riley Brandt to double the hosts advantage before Perlini himself scored a third.

Devils coach Paul Thompson was furious after last weekend's double Challenge Cup defeat, the first against Blaze a 6-5 setback at the Vindico Arena, the second a 5-0 loss at the same venue the following day against Nottingham Panthers.

Devils' have a second opportunity for revenge on Sunday, with an EIHL trip to Panthers (16:00 BST).