Cardiff Devils @ Sheffield Steelers - 26/01/2013

  Braving the cold weather and dangerous roads, the Cardiff Devils made their way up to the MotorPoint Arena in Sheffield to take on the Steelers.  Despite a valiant effort in goal against Edinburgh last week, Joe Myers was relieved as starting net minder, with Chris Whitley making his debut for the Welsh side - and after facing a total of 29 shots, the guy did extremely well.

  In fact, the Devils played well as a whole; despite the narrow loss, Cardiff put up 35 shots against Decaro, forcing him to stand on his head to keep his team in the game.  Our boys in red came back three times, never lying down.  It was Sheffield that took the earlier lead in the game, Ferguson scoring at 11.00 exactly to give the home side the advantage.  Cardiff MOM Mac Faulkner levelled the game at  around the 15 minute mark but Drew Fata regained the lead just before the end of the first period.

  Luke Piggot also received a 2+10 for checking from behind, whilst Faulkner served a delay of game and Esders served a too many men - because of this, Faulkner's goal was a shorthanded effort, one of five out of 42 goals this season, and Fata's a power play goal.

  Cardiff were not done; just a minute or so into the second, Josh Batch (who has been playing out of position, on the top line, since at least december) levelled the score for the visiting side.  The score remained the same for the following ten minutes, though both sides saw several power play opportunities, before Ashley Tait and Drew Fata added Sheffield's third and fourth goals - effectively breaking the spirit of the Cardiff players.

  Despite a dip in morale, the boys weren't going to let their travelling fans down.  They fought throughout the third, outshooting the Steelers 12 to 7 but nothing was going in... That is until the thirteenth minute, when GB International Phil Hill added the Devils' third, making it a one goal game.  They continued to shoot puck after puck at the net, but things were looking bad when former-Devil Tyler Michel added Sheffield's fifth and final goal, a shorthanded empty-netter (Jeff Legue in the box for high-sticking) with just a minute and a half remaining.

  With an incredible spike of determination, Mac Faulkner added the Devils' fourth goal at 19.46 - a power play goal as Goertzen was sitting a holding penalty - but Cardiff were not able to get that tying goal in the final 15 seconds.  A disappointing loss, but the guys played incredibly well and a proud Red Army cheered them home.

  Desperate for some points, the Devils headed home to face the Nottingham Panthers - Elite League leaders at this time - in what is sure to be a great match up. Let's Go Devils!

You can check out more of Holly's blog here http://theworldofsportbyateengirl.blogspot.co.uk/