Coventry Blaze went down to a 4-1 defeat in the Challenge Cup Semi-Final First Leg.
Brent Walton gave Cardiff the lead on 17.31 in front of a crowd of 2,444 at the Sky Dome.
In the second period, Matt Myers hit a second on the powerplay on 33.39 and although Jakub Sindel pulled a goal back on 36.42, assisted by Tait and Tanaka, Cardiff soon had a third on 37.04 through Markhu Tahtinen.
In the third period, Cardiff scored a fourth through Andrew Lord with a shorthanded goal on 59.59.