Commentary Scope

Cardiff Devils earned another valuable point as they took the Mincoffs Newcastle Vipers to overtime before going down 2-1 on penalties.

Jason Silverthorn scored the Devils’ only goal as they completed a three-point weekend and extended their lead over Manchester in the standings.

Ed Courtenay netted the winning penalty shot for the Vipers, who took the lead in regulation through Jeff Hutchins.

On Saturday the Devils beat Newcastle 4-1 in Cardiff Bay.

Sunday’s was the final league meeting between the two teams, the season series ending in a 3-3 tie.

The fifth-placed Devils now have a four-point advantage over Manchester Phoenix.

Cardiff Devils gained revenge on Newcastle Vipers for Thursday’s shoot-out defeat with a fine Elite League win on Saturday night at the Metro Arena.

Phil Hill broke the deadlock in the second period, with new import Matt Elich doubling the visitors’ lead.

The third period was all about Jay Latulippe, who struck a hat-trick to seal it for Cardiff, Ed Courtenay and Jeff Hutchins replying for the Vipers.

Cardiff complete their three-game road trip on Sunday night at Edinburgh.

Newcastle are also on the road as they head to league leaders Sheffield.

Nottingham Panthers latest signing Cameron Mann says the club’s high profile in the UK was a key reason for him coming to the National Ice Centre.

The 32-year-old has appeared 93 times in the NHL and has played in the top leagues of Germany and Finland.

Mann told BBC Radio Nottingham: “I’ve heard a lot about it and heard they’re one of the top two or three teams.

“Talking to Corey (Neilson) and Bruce (Richardson), they’re excited to have me and I’m excited to come.”

Mann was selected by the Boston Bruins in the NHL fourth-round draft of 1995 and made his debut for the team in the 1997/98 season.
He made 89 appearances for Boston over four seasons and also appeared in the world’s top league for Nashville.

“Playing in the top league and learning from some of the top players I played with means I can bring that experience to Nottingham,” Mann said.

Edinburgh Capitals recorded a 3-2 win over visitors Hull Stingrays to move three points clear of their opponents in the Elite League.

Visitors Hull took the lead in the first period through Jamie Thompson.

But Doug Christiansen levelled and Joe Dustin had put Capitals ahead by the end of the second.

Hull restored parity through Aaron Wilson but Martin Cingel quickly restored Edinburgh’s lead with his 15th goal of the season.

Capitals sit eighth in the table, one place ahead of Hull.

The three shooters form the smallest contingent heading to the island but Nicholas Dewe, Richard Dewe and Stefan Roberts are all Games veterans.

Having won a silver and two bronzes in Rhodes in 2007 the team are hoping to take the gold medal in Aland.

Richard Dewe said shooting is part of island life: “It was more to put rabbits on the table than sport.”

The Aland 2009 Island Games is the first the team will attend without shooting stalwart John Jackson.

Jackson used to subsidise the team and also set up the clay target range on his land which has allowed so many success stories to come out of such a small island, but sadly passed away in 2008.

“Without all the time and effort that John has put in the years gone by none of us would have had medals for Sark,” said Nic Dewe.

All of the finalists scored perfect marks from the judges. Rycroft, who appeared on TV show The Bachelor, was eliminated after the first round of the public vote, placing her third.

Johnson and Marini – who appeared in the Sex and the City movie – went on to perform a final dance, which also impressed the judges.

In the final phase of the phone vote, the two pairs were separated by just 1%, according to presenter Tom Bergeron.

Johnson’s professional dancing partner Mark Ballas won the show for the second time, after victory with Olympic ice skater Kristi Yamaguchi at the climax of the sixth series last year.

It is a big week for reality TV fans in the US, with the latest winner of American Idol due to be announced on Wednesday.

The two finalists, Adam Lambert and Kris Allen, performed on Tuesday night in a bid to secure a lucrative recording contract.

California rocker Lambert was praised by judge Simon Cowell for his efforts.