Tearall settles Halloween shootout as Canucks turn the tables on Slough

With less than two minutes left at the Vindico Arena, Cardiff Canucks were still facing a second defeat to Slough Spitfires in a fortnight. Then Sam Davies struck on the power play, bringing the Halloween fixture level and giving Cardiff the chance to turn a late escape into a home victory.

Joe Tearall eventually supplied the deciding finish, scoring the only goal of the penalty shootout to secure a 3–2 win on Sunday 25 October. After the defeats at Bristol and Slough earlier in the month, Cardiff had returned to winning ways—but only after a closing spell in which penalties helped shape both their recovery and the challenge of keeping it intact.

Slough again named several players from the NIHL1 Jets squad. Kyle Bradburn, who had scored both goals in the 2–0 Eddie Joseph Memorial Cup win a fortnight earlier, was joined once more by Jude Affleck, Alex Rosam and goaltender Ruari McGibbon. Felix Hemmings-Maher, also part of the Jets roster, featured too.

The first period finished scoreless despite penalties on both sides. Slough were penalised for cross-checking, delay of game and too many players on the ice, while Cardiff picked up a cluster of penalties late in the period. Neither side found a breakthrough before the opening interval.

Carter Lloyd broke the deadlock at 25:10, with Joe Morris and Davies providing the assists. Cardiff had found a way past McGibbon after being shut out in the previous meeting, but their one-goal advantage would not survive the second period.

The middle period also brought a series of fighting penalties at 32:13, with Sam Bryant receiving a game misconduct. Later, Viktor Langseth's boarding penalty gave Slough a power play, and Samuel Hemmings-Maher took advantage at 38:55. His equaliser, assisted by Harvey Harman and Scott Anda, left Cardiff with just 1:05 to go before the interval and sent the teams into the third level at 1–1.

Harman then put the visitors ahead at 49:10, with Joseph Covey and Bradburn supplying the assists. For much of the remaining period, that goal stood between Cardiff and a result. Ross Miller kept the deficit to one as the clock ran down, finishing the game with 35 saves from 37 shots faced.

Slough's late penalty opened the door. A too-many-players call at 57:43 gave Cardiff a power play with only 2:17 left in regulation. Just 31 seconds later, Davies scored to make it 2–2. With 1:46 remaining, the Canucks had rescued a game that had been slipping away.

There was still another obstacle. Zak Shanahan was penalised for holding at 59:36, leaving Cardiff short-handed for the final 24 seconds of regulation and with penalty time carrying into overtime. They came through without conceding, and five scoreless extra minutes took the contest to penalties.

Davies and Lloyd were unable to convert their shootout attempts, but Tearall found the net. With Slough unable to score in the shootout, his was the only successful attempt, completing Cardiff's recovery and giving the home supporters the final celebration.

Both goaltenders were recognised with their teams’ Man of the Match awards: Miller for Cardiff and McGibbon for Slough.

Cardiff now have another home rematch ahead. Guildford Phoenix visit the Vindico Arena on Sunday 1 November at 6.30pm, following the Canucks' comeback from three goals down to win 6–4 at the Spectrum in September. Come and get behind the Canucks at the 'Nuck House as they look to build on their return to winning ways. Book your tickets.