Match Review - Devils @ Steerlers

With the release of d-man Jamie Milam during the week, the Cardiff Devils were determined to demonstrate that they were turning a corner last night, as they travelled up to Sheffield for their next challenge cup fixture.  Having only won one out of three prior to last night, Cardiff were sitting in fourth in Challenge Cup Group B and were desperately in need of the points.

  The Devils started strong, with good chances and hard hits coming from all players.  With the big hits being reciprocated by the Sheffield side, fans were calling it a game of 'high intensity'.  This back and forth action continued until Cardiff's number 27, Kenton Smith, was sent to the box for hooking, just after the 12th minute.  Devils' killed off the penalty, continuing the game until Smith's brother, Mark, was put in the box for interference at 19:18.  With the Welsh side short on a D-man, the Steelers' capitalised, with Drew Fata scoring their first at 19:34, on the power play.  He then finished up the period in the penalty box (hooking @19:59).  So, despite the good, even start, Cardiff went into the second trailing by one.

  Having the man advantage, the Devils came out fighting, with resident power forward Max Birbraer embedding Steelers' Shawn Limpright into the ice.  They followed that up with an even strength goal by Brit Ben Davies, timed at just passed the 22 minute-mark.  With the Devils equalising and still looking strong, Sheffield retreated to their half, looking fierce in defence.  Despite this, Cardiff managed a second goal, putting them ahead for the first time, the goal coming from Marsh at 25.24.

  The fans got to see some big hits some both sides in the second half of the period, but the Steelers also managed an equaliser of their own, with Limpright being credited despite the puck going in off a Devils' skate.  Steven Goertzen put them ahead just over two minutes later, bringing the score up to 3-2 Steelers by the end of the period.

  It seemed to be a slower start for the Devils going into the third, with Sheffield camping out in the Devils' defensive zone.  After the slow start, they started to make some progress, getting shots off when possible and knocking NHLer Tom Sestito to build morale.  Number 24, Devin Didiomete, responsible for the hard check on Sestito sat a bench penalty for the travelling team, before coming back onto the ice to assist on the Devils' equalising goal - which was scored by captain, and man of the match, Stuart MacRae.  Cardiff continued to battle hard through the last few minutes but were unable to pull anything out of the bag.  End of regulation: 3-3.

  With neither team grabbing that final point in OT, the game went to penalty shootouts, with every member of the Red Army holding their breath.  It was looking good, with Chris Blight scoring on the first shot, and Limpright not equalising until the third round.  Unfortunately, Steelers Drew Feta came back to score the winner in the fifth, after missing in the second.  Final score 4-3 Steelers, and the Devils head back to Cardiff with just the one point.

  We're back in the league on Sunday, with the Nottingham Panthers travelling to town.  After losing 4-2 in our last meeting, Cardiff will be fighting it out in revenge, giving their all to gain those precious two league points.  Puck drop is at 6pm, so make sure you get down to the Bay and support the guys!  Let's Go Devils!

Devils 3 - 4 Steelers - Shoot Out Final