Great performance in Cardiff for the Steelers with a huge 2 points
All tied at 2-2 after the middle period. Devils off to a flyer and 1-0 lead before Ritchie and Harper have the Steelers up 2-1 after 20 minutes.
Devils score the only goal of the second period … its ties 2-2 with 20 minutes remaining.
No Kevin Tansey and Cole Shudra fro the Steelers, with both IBN and Kyle Watson in the line up playing alongside Sam Tremblay.
First Period.
All Cardiff early doors, with the home side taking the lead after just 50 seconds when a shot from the point from Estes was deflected by Olischefski to open the scoring
Cardiff could have doubled their advantage on a couple of occasions with Greenfield outstanding, especially from a MacDonald breakaway.
Steelers started to turn the ice into our favour, shift by shift with chances falling to Ritchie and Dougherty.
13.02 and the Devils to the box, Yaromko for tripping (Tait)
13.42 and on the power-play the Steelers tie the game, Balmas with a lovely play and inch perfect pass to Ritchie who fires home (1-1)
The game continued to be end to end with both Greenfield and Stoever making the saves.
18.55 and Ritchie turns from scorer to provider as he sets up Stephen Harper for a wicked one time blast that puts the Steelers in a 2-1 lead at the break.
End of the first period: Devils 1-2 Steelers
Second Period
Devils came out hard once again at the start of the period, Ferguson goes close but Greenfield denies.
At the other end Stoever makes a great stop as Steelers crash the net with Heard getting the final touch but the Devils goalie goes post to post to make the save
Cormier with a cross ice pass that Heard looks like he gets to but again Stoever gets over to make the save
30.03 and the Devils equalise as Barrow assists Ferguson
Late in the period Mitchell Balmas helped off the ice, he doesn’t play another shift and slowly made his way to the dressing room at the end of the period.
Before that at 38.30 Heard called for roughing, Devils have a couple of looks on the power-play but the Steelers see the period out with Cardiff having 30 seconds remaining when the third period starts.
After two periods … Devils 2-2 Steelers
Third Period
All to play for but not before killing off the final 30 seconds of the Devils power-play and that we did.
43.20 and the Steelers take the lead, 3-2
Diffley with a great pass to Patrick Watling, his quick hands find Ryan Tait out in front and he hammers home (for the eventual game winning goal)
45.31 Ferguson to the box for tripping – Steelers power-play
Cormier with an early chance but at 46.04 Ritchie is called for interference so we play 4 on 4
Juusola with a breakaway, his backhand shot inches wide
Both teams returned to full strength and the battle continued
49.45 Huttula takes a tripping penalty on Joey Martin, huge chance for the Devils but Greenfield makes the first save off Ferguson.
Brandt had a good look but shoots over the cross bar – Balmas with a short handed breakaway but denied. Jasper than finds Balmas who fires high.
Devils come back with chances, MacDonald with a great look but the puck runs off his stick.
with 1.44 remaining Cardiff call a time out and pull Stoever to the bench for the extra forward.
58.25 and Mikko hits the empty net for a 4-2 scoreline
at 59.54 Mikko scores a 2nd into the empty net to round off the scoring
Final score: Devils 2-5 Steelers
