Ice hockey: Cardiff work extra hard for victories

Cardiff needed overtime to win both their Superleague matches at the weekend. Against Nottingham, both sides had players suspended after last month's ill- tempered meeting between them and both seemed cagey, doubtless aware that anything more than minor penalties would incur the league's wrath.

The game was level 2-2 at the end of the third period. Nottingham dominated in overtime but, on Cardiff's first real attack, with just a minute left, Ivan Matulik scored the winner.

The following day, against Newcastle, Cardiff were again taken to overtime. This time Ian Cooper scored the winner.

Newcastle's other game, against Sheffield, also went to sudden-death. Newcastle pulled their netminder in the third period and came back from 2-0 down. Neither team could score during overtime and the game finished a tie.