Weekend Reveiw - December 1st & 2nd

Saturday 1st December - Motorpoint Arena (League)
  
     Devils 3 - 2 Steelers - Final

Sunday 2nd December - Cardiff Bay Arena (Challenge Cup)

    Devils 7- 6  Steelers - Shoot Out Final

Saturday night saw a travelling Red Army, as the Devils headed up to Sheffield for the first of a two part double header.  With new-old-signing Mark Richardson back in a Devils' jersey and fan favourite Max 'Boom Boom' Birbraer back from suspension, it was sure to be a great match.

The Devils started off slowly, going behind just six minutes in  - Ashley Tait the scorer for the home side.  The Steelers continued on and added a second a few minutes later, Drew Fata scoring on the power play after Devils' no. 24 Devin Didiomete was sent to the box for tripping.  Jason Hewitt also took a trip to the box for hooking at 1040, but Cardiff didn't get on the board until 1825, when Birbraer announced his return in style.

As normal, the second showed a slower side to the team, and two penalties - the captain for slashing and the bench for too many men.  Despite gaining the advantage twice, the Steelers failed to capitalise and the score remained at 2-1 going into the third.

It was all about the visitors in the third, with Cardiff scoring twice to take the lead, and eventually the game.  Despite the probable agitation he felt for a 'Simmsey slip-up' on his name,  MAC Faulkner scored two goals in ten minutest to earn himself MOM and the Devils' those all-important league points.

With a jubilant attitude which can only come from a fantastic win the night before, the Devils' welcomed the Steelers in the BBT on Sunday for a challenge cup match up - despite being unable to progress no matter what the final score.

For the fans that made the trip up on Saturday they would have experienced a bit of deja vu, with the Steelers taking the lead six minutes in.  With Birbaer out with an ankle injury, despite only returning from suspension the day before, the Devils were looking a bit slow.  But after Sheffield's Thomas was sent to the box for holding, Ben Davies levelled the score on the power play with seven minutes left to play in the first.

Despite being held off to just the one goal in the first, Sheffield came out fighting, scoring a shorthanded goal two minutes in - whilst Tait sat in the box for tripping on behalf of Decaro.  With the score at 2-1 in favour of the Steelers, and the outcome of little consequence to the Devils, Osaer was replaced with Joe Myers, who received a large cheer as he stepped into the net.

Ref Dean Smith saw some abuse and saw fit to throw Stephenson a ten minute misconduct at 2825, giving captain Stuart MacRae the chance to level the tally on the power play.  Fata regained the lead for the visitors but again Macrae pulled it back before Tyson Marsh gave the Devils their first lead of the game just before the buzzer rang, the home side taking a 4-3 lead into the final period.

Phil Hill continued the momentum for Cardiff, extending their lead to two, before Hewitt brought on back for the English side.  With just seven minutes left in the period, Limpright and Shields scored two in quick succession to retake the lead.  But with a lucky turn of events MacRae added his hat trick goal in the final minus to force a very tense overtime - in which neither team managed to score the winner.

 So off to penalties it was and a nervous Red Army were watching with baited breath.  After several misses and a goal each for MacRae and Shields, it was up to Blight and he didn't disappoint.

 7-6 SO the final score and a pair of wins over the Steelers for Cardiff.  Let's Go Devils

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