Ice Hockey: Cody keeps Capitals climbing the table

Published on Monday 2 November 2009 08:56

CODY RUDKOWSKY arrived at Murrayfield with a big reputation and the former National Hockey League goalie continues to prove he is one of the best in the business as Edinburgh Capitals climb the Elite League table.

The 31-year-old netminder dealt with a staggering 95 shots in 120 minutes of high-tempo ice hockey over two nights against Nottingham Panthers, the top team in the league. And the former East Coast Hockey League star only allowed in nine goals.

Capitals ran Nottingham close in England, just losing 5-3 but won last night's return encounter, 5-4 at Murrayfield, securing two valuable points.

Capitals are sixth in the eight-strong table with nine points from the same number of games, one place ahead of defending league champions Sheffield Steelers, who have eight points from 12 matches, and three clear of rock-bottom Hull Stingrays, who have also played 12 games.

Capitals travel to Hull on Saturday and last night's victory, after coming from behind, is a massive confidence boost.

Fans who braved Sunday's downpour to get to Murrayfield were treated to a see-saw spectacular.

It was, however, captured by Sky Sports and will be shown later this week. Don't miss it. It had everything, including a number of superb saves from Rudkowsky.

However brilliant Rudkowsky was, the skaters in front of him also contributed in huge measure to the win which helped erase Saturday's disappointment in Nottingham.

Capitals led Panthers 2-0 in England with goals from Simon Lambert after three minutes and Neil Hay in the 18th. Panthers stormed back to fire four unanswered goals between the 27th and 54th minute to lead 4-2 but razor-sharp Lambert claimed Capitals' third less than three minutes from time to make home fans edgy.

Bruce Richardson's second of the night 32 seconds from the conclusion on an empty net after Rudkowsky had been withdrawn, calmed home nerves and allowed Nottingham to elbow Belfast Giants out of top spot.

Rudkowsky had to deal with 61 shots against only 24 on his opposite number Kevin St Pierre and Capitals' netminder knew he was in for another busy night yesterday.

Panthers put Capitals under real pressure early on but Mark Garside broke the deadlock after 13 minutes on the power play with Mark Smith providing the final pass only seconds after Panthers' David Clarke had hit the crossbar at the other end.

Panthers, with former Capitals forward Ross Dalgleish in their line-up, levelled through Dominic D'Amour five minutes into the second period and, four minutes later, the visitors were ahead for the first and only time in a pulsating match. Free-scoring Sean McAslan provided the finishing touch unassisted.

Never-say-die Capitals responded two minutes later, punishing Panthers, who had a man in the sin bin. Owen Fussey did the damage after good work from Simon Lambert and Jeff Hutchins after 31 minutes.

Then just 18 seconds later, it was 3-2, Dunfermline-born Scott McKenzie pouncing after Garside had set him up.

Capitals claimed their fourth when Hutchins fed Lambert and the lively sniper's shot rebounded from St Pierre's pads to Hay, who made no mistake with his low shot from close in.

Kevin Bergin pulled one back after 46 minutes only for Darius Pliskauskas to sneak the puck in at the near post past St Pierre after 52 minutes on the power play.

It was Capitals' third power-play goal of the night but Panthers were not finished and Cameron Mann netted shorthanded with just under five minutes left.

Capitals held out with Rudkowsky in the thick of the action. The ice-cool player said: "I faced a few shots on the weekend but staying busy keeps you focused.

"I felt a little tired physically in the third period of last night's game but we held on to take the points. The fans played a big part.

"They helped Nottingham in Nottingham and they helped us in Edinburgh.

"I just do my job. Nottingham are a good team. They have good goaltending and they have skill in their squad.

"We've got a good team here and a 5-4 hockey game is good for the fans. It was close from beginning to end and our win sends a message to the fans. Hockey is work in progress in this country. It was great that this game was filmed for TV. It will give fans a view of what we do and, hopefully, it will make them want to come and see us. I'm sure that game was good to watch."

Elsewhere, Broxburn-based Mark McGill, who quit Capitals in the close season, earned praise from jubilant Dundee CCS Stars managers after two superb games helped earn the Tayside team victory in the Autumn Cup Final.

Stars won 17-3 on aggregate, enjoying a shock 10-1 victory at Fife Flyers on Saturday and following-up with a 7-2 success on Tayside last night.

Bobby Haig, Stars' assistant player/coach, said: "The whole team have a great weekend but Mark had an outstanding two games.

"The only allowed three goals past in over 60 shots and the guys have great faith in him."