A sizeable pre-season crowd was in attendance for the first time in almost 18-months. However, it would be the well prepared Cardiff Devils who took the lead in the sixth minute with a deflected shot from the point.

A heavy hit on Sullivan from Cardiff’s McNally saw him assessed a game misconducted. Unfortunately, pre-season rust stagnated the five-minute powerplay and goal scoring chances were few and fair between.

The Devils doubled their advantage shortly after on the powerplay, and the 2-0 advantage would persist until the first intermission buzzer sounded.

The Storm found their scoring touching early in the second stanza, as Brady’s five-hole finish was the first home goal of the new campaign. The returnee forwards, Critchlow & Simmonds, combined to level the scoring with the former finding the top-shelf. Parity wouldn’t last for long, as an excellent team goal from Cardiff left Ginn hapless.

The 3-2 lead lasted for the remainder of the period, as an exchanging in minor penalties disrupted the flow of the match somewhat.

An evenly contested final period saw the Storm drag themselves level through a well-placed Ehrhardt wristshot on the powerplay.

A tight checking final ten minute saw the game remain tied at 3-3 after regulation. Just 15 seconds into overtime and the game was decided, as the Devils forward cut inside and rifled a wristshot beyond Ginn to give the Welsh side the victory.

#WeAreStorm | #Manchester