Game Summary
The wait goes on for the Steelers as the Devils shut out the Steelers on the road with damage done via two goals in both the second and third period.
The Steelers will now have a chance of lifting the Elite League trophy on home ice on Sunday night as we take on the Guildford Flames after a visit to Nottingham on Saturday.
First Period [0-0]
An electric atmosphere from puckdrop as fans in the sold out crowd went back and forth in great spirit, just as the players did in on the ice.
Fifteen shots on target between the two teams but neither able to break the deadlock despite the Cardiff Devils having the puck in the back of the Steelers goal at (1.49) only to be waved of on a coach’s review. The opportunity coming on an early powerplay for the Devils as Steelers defenceman, Colton Saucerman was sent to the box for interference behind his own net with a hit deemed to be behind the play. Some crisp passing seemed to open up the goal for Donaghey to smash home the opener, but on review it showed a Devils player cutting across Greenfield and taking out the Steelers netminder as the scoreboard was reset to nil-nil.
The home team starting the brightest, but the visiting Steelers working their way into the game at the five-minute mark as Sam Jones looked destined to give the Steelers the lead as a huge rebound from Ben Bowns’ pads fell nicely with Jones who could only ring it off the outside of the post from a tight angle with the Cardiff netminder nowhere to be seen.
Matthew Greenfield again coming in clutch for the Steelers with a great pad save at the other end as the Devils’ man looked to cut across the blue paint and backhand the puck in at the far post. That was just before the Steelers saw their first powerplay action when River Rymsha sent a puck straight out of play in his own zone, but the Steelers were unable to capitalise despite a couple of good set up plays for both Marco Vallerand and Mitchell Balmas. The teams then heading into the second period all square.
Second Period [2-0]
Advantage Cardiff Devils after forty minutes with the home side having much the better of the second period and making the pressure tell with a two-goal lead heading into the third period. The Devils’ Cody Donaghey also with another goal wiped off after a scramble around the goal of Greenfield and bringing the puck out from underneath the pad of the Steelers netminder.
A powerplay goal at (27.30) to get the Devils ahead in the game with Cole Shudra in the box for roughing as Trevor Cox picked up the puck around the Steelers blue line down the left wing and snuck one in over the shoulder of Greenfield with the puck just having enough to drop over the line. Assists awarded to Arniel and Wilde.
In what seemed like a period in which could explode at any point, it was a period full of infringements for both teams, often even calls for roughing and unsportsmanlike conduct giving neither team much advantage in terms of extra skaters.
However, it was a five on five goal for the Devils later in the period at (38.40) grabbing the two goal advantage for the Devils as the Steelers were caught on a long shift as the Devils third line went tic-tac-toe to open up the goal and find Brandon Alderson at the back post to give him space and time to lift the puck over and up into the top of Greenfield’s goal.
Third Period [4-0]
Two goals and two fights in the final period. Unfortunately for the Steelers, both goals going in favour of the Devils as the home team came out victorious for four and shutting out the Steelers.
Both Sam Jones and Marco Vallerand dropping the gloves with Riley Brandt and River Rymsha respectively in what was always bubbling throughout the contest.
Third goal for the Devils coming at (48.46) via Jamie Arniel, finishing off a great backhanded pass back across the crease from Ryan Barrow.
Fourth and final goal then coming at (55.05) from Devils Joey Martin who had been buzzing around the zone and finished off a loose puck.
