Brandt and Mieho score in the final period for Devils victory
First Period: Devils 2-1 Steelers
Opening night of the new season and the Steelers are back in action, taking on the Cardiff Devils in the first of their exhibition fixtures.
Matt Greenfield started between the pipes, with the Steelers icing a full-strength line-up in Cardiff.
It was a stunning start for Aaron Fox’s side.
Inside the opening minute, Ryan Tait raced down the right wing and fired on goal. Devils netminder Stoever made the initial save, but new signing Adam Rockwood was perfectly placed to convert the rebound and give the Steelers an early 1-0 lead.
Cardiff responded on the power play with Brandon Whistle sitting a minor penalty for interference. MacDonald found Yaremko, who beat Greenfield to level the game at 1-1.
MacDonald then went from provider to scorer just a minute later. A bouncing puck couldn’t be cleared by the Steelers and eventually fell perfectly for MacDonald in front of Greenfield, who made no mistake to put the Devils 2-1 ahead.
The Steelers found themselves back on the penalty kill when Ivan Björkly-Nordström was called for hooking, before Macoy Erkamps also sat for roughing, but the Steelers PK unit stood firm.
Later in the period came Sheffield’s first power play of the new season when Stoever was penalised for delay of game.
Just as the Steelers had done earlier, however, the Devils successfully killed the one-man advantage.
End of the First Period: Cardiff Devils 2-1 Sheffield Steelers
Steelers Goal: Adam Rockwood
Second Period
Second Period: Steelers Turn It Around
The Steelers came flying out of the blocks in the second period and dominated the opening exchanges, with Ryan Tait once again using his speed to cause problems for the Cardiff defence.
At 23.05, Sheffield were back on level terms as Leevi Teissala scored his first goal for the club.
Teissala fired a wrist shot from the top of the circle that beat Stoever in the Devils net to make it 2-2.
The Steelers continued to press and at 30.28 they were back in front.
Dominic Cormier fired from the right wing and, although it initially looked as though Stoever had made the save, the Devils netminder couldn’t keep hold of the puck and it trickled over the goal line for a 3-2 Steelers lead.
New signing Logan Roe was also heavily involved as the Steelers looked to extend their advantage, combining first with Adam Rockwood and then captain Robert Dowd to create further opportunities.
It was an impressive middle period from Aaron Fox’s side, outscoring the Devils 2-0 and turning a 2-1 deficit into a one-goal advantage.
End of the Second Period: Cardiff Devils 2-3 Sheffield Steelers
Steelers Goals: Adam Rockwood, Leevi Teissala, Dominic Cormier
20 minutes to go in Cardiff – Steelers lead 3-2.
Third period
Third Period: Devils Edge It Late
Steelers Head Coach Aaron Fox made a change between the pipes for the third period, resting starting netminder Matt Greenfield and handing Lucas Brine his first minutes in goal for the Steelers.
Brine was called into action early and made a couple of saves before Tim Gettinger was sent to the penalty box for tripping at 43.07.
The Steelers successfully killed the penalty, but the Devils had started to build some momentum.
At 45.53, Cardiff were level.
A hard pass out of the corner found Riley Brandt, whose first-time finish left Brine with little chance as the Devils tied the game at 3-3.
The action became increasingly end-to-end through the middle stages of the period.
Leevi Teissala showed some quick hands to create an opportunity that forced a save from Stoever, before Cardiff’s Bayley Harewood broke away at the other end. This time Brine stood tall, making the save and forcing the puck wide.
The eventual game-winning goal arrived in the 50th minute.
A puck fired out from the corner fell loose in front of the Steelers goal, where Mieho reacted quickest, shovelling it between Brine’s legs to put Cardiff 4-3 ahead.
The Steelers pushed hard for an equaliser and, with time running out, Fox pulled Brine to the bench for the extra attacker.
Cardiff stood firm, however, and saw out the remaining seconds to claim a 4-3 victory.
or the Steelers, playing their first game of the new season against a Cardiff side already playing their fifth, there was plenty to take from an entertaining opening exhibition encounter.
Final Score: Cardiff Devils 4-3 Sheffield Steelers
Steelers Goals:
🏒 Adam Rockwood
🏒 Leevi Teissala
🏒 Dominic Cormier
The two sides don’t have long to wait before doing it all again, with the Devils travelling to Sheffield on Sunday afternoon for the return exhibition fixture at the Utilita Arena.
Face-off is at 4.00pm