Three goals in 70 seconds saw Cardiff Devils eventually rout a tiring Nottingham Panthers line-up as they suffered their first regulation defeat in eight Elite League games.
Devils were the last team to beat Panthers in 60 minutes, 5-2 in Wales on December 21, and home advantage paid off once again as the hosts won in highly impressive fashion, 7-2.
Panthers went into the game with 13 skaters having lost defencemen Steve Lee and Sam Oakford from the line-up that beat Coventry Blaze 5-0. Lee suffered a head injury in the game and Oakford has joined EPL side Swindon Wildcats on loan.
Those superior numbers proved a key factor as Corey Neilson's men were blown away in the second period.
Panthers took the lead on the power play after 13.54 when Jonathan Boxill tipped a shot in. Devils levelled soon after with a power play of their own, Carl Hudson slamming a shot past Mattias Modig, who started in place of Craig Kowalski.
Cardiff took charge in the second period with goals after 33.33, 34.14 and 34.43 through Joey Haddad, Andrew Lord and Chris Culligan respectively.
Robert Farmer undoubtedly took one for his team by fighting the much bigger Doug Clarkson, but his bravery failed to spark the comeback he will have hoped for even though Chris Lawrence made it 4-2 before the second intermission.
Three more goals followed in the final period. Clarkson beat Modig after 49.39 and the Swedish net minder's difficult night continued after 53.35 when Joey Martin made it 6-2.
Jake Morissette added the seventh at 55.38 to complete the scoring and put a weary Panthers line-up out of their misery.
