SEAN PERKINS' glory strike 65 seconds from time in Cardiff could prove crucial as on-fire Edinburgh Capitals bid to clinch a coveted Elite League play-off place.
The defenceman's late counter secured a shock 4-3 victory against the Devils last night, Capitals' first win in the Principality this term.
Overall, Capitals have only beaten Devils twice in six meetings this term and the victory came at just th
e right time as it completed a win-double weekend for Doug Christiansen's play-off chasers.
Saturday's sensational 9-2 win over Newcastle Vipers on Saturday was set up by a 7-1 first period scoreline.
Christiansen was able to rest some of his leading players ahead of last night's clash.
And the ploy worked as Capitals were never behind throughout a tight game last night.
Newcomer Jason Cassells opened the scoring unassisted after 14 minutes and defenceman Kyle Horne made it 2-0 four minutes later with Mark Hurtubise assisting.
Jay Latulippe and Matt Towe levelled by the 27th minute but Cassells, assisted by Perkins, put the visitors ahead again in the 34th minute.
Doug McIvor replied 25 seconds from the end of the middle session but Capitals refused to crack.
Even the loss of defenceman Taylor Christie on a two minute for checking and then a ten-minute unsportsmanlike conduct penalty failed to halt Capitals as Fife-born defenceman Craig Mitchell stood firm.
And Perkins sealed the points after being set up by man of the match Cassells and Brad Bonello.
Cassells had his best game since joining the club from Telford and Christiansen said: "We left Edinburgh at 7am and the guys did their job when they came at us in the third period.
"We had chances and we buried them and earlier this season we may not have scored them.
"We've still got a tough programme to come but this was a big weekend for us and we extended the gap over Hull Stingrays to three points.
"Cardiff is a very difficult place to play. We won here ugly last season and we've won here at a critical stage this season which is great."
On Saturday, Cassells was again influential with three assists as Capitals fans celebrated the club's biggest win so far this season, a 9-2 victory over Newcastle Vipers.
And seven of the goals came in just over 19 minutes of the first period.
Christiansen was delighted that everything had clicked so well and that the squad had stuck to their game plan.
The American playcaller was also pleased for newcomer Bonello, and Adam Stefishen, who each netted three goals.
Christiansen said: "It was good for both of them, but Brad in particular. I now think he will be big for us in the next few weeks.
"We had a conversation recently in which I said that we needed him to step up.
"Ever since we had that conversation he has been great for us." Christiansen added: "The Newcastle win was big. We battled hard right away and we were three goals ahead in just over six minutes – we've never done that before.
"Then we went 7-1 ahead by the end of the first period and that allowed me to bring some of my import guys off.
"Jordan Steel, Craig Mitchell, Kyle Horne and Mark Paterson all got valuable ice time."
It also give Christiansen the chance to rest No.1 goaltender Pasi Raitanen, who faced 20 shots before making way for back-up Jaycee Moore after two periods. Moore faced 18 shots.
Shellshocked Newcastle had replaced No.1 Andrew Verner after the first period in which he faced 22 shots. Richard Lawson took over and then dealt with 20 more.
The unexpected scoreline against Capitals' arch-rivals was a confidence boost going into last night.
Bonello started the avalanche when he netted on the power play after 117 seconds.
He made it 2-0 also on the power play in the fifth minute and Stefishen converted No.3 unassisted in the seventh.
Newcastle, minus former NHL star Ed Courtenay, pulled one back through former Capitals hitman Jeff Hutchins in the eighth before Bonello completed his treble unassisted 26 seconds later to make it 4-1.
Skipper Martin Cingel got in on the act to make it 5-1 in the 16th minute and Sean Perkins fired home the sixth just under two minutes after that.
Taylor Christie joined in the goal spree with 51 seconds remaining of the period and the scoreline stayed the same until Vipers netted their second from Derek Campbell with just over 12 minutes to go.
Stefishen completed the scoring and his treble with two goals in two minutes. The contributions of Mark Hurtubise should not be forgotten as the club's top points gatherer recorded three assists in Capitals' fourth win in five league games against the Tyneside team.
