Game Summary
The Cardiff Devils claimed a hard-earned 5-3 victory over the Sheffield Steelers in a fast-paced Challenge Cup showdown. Despite an impressive 50-save performance from Steelers’ netminder Matthew Greenfield, the Devils’ relentless offense proved too strong, with Cardiff outshooting Sheffield 55-19.
The opening period saw both teams on the scoreboard, with Marco Vallerand putting Sheffield ahead on an early power play before Reid Duke answered for Cardiff. The second period remained a close contest, with the Devils dominating the shot count at that point 40-12, but Vallerand struck again to briefly restore the Steelers’ lead. Cardiff fought back, however, and Reid Duke netted his second to level the game 2-2 heading into the final frame.
In the third, Cardiff capitalised on their pressure, as Cole Sanford broke the tie at 49:46, and Riley Brandt extended the lead shortly after. Sheffield’s Mikko Juusola managed a late power-play goal, but Joey Martin responded almost immediately to restore Cardiff’s cushion and secure the win.
Marco Vallerand’s two-goal night earned him the Steelers’ Man of the Match honour, while the team will look to rebound with upcoming games against the Nottingham Panthers and Belfast Giants.
First Period [1-1] – Devils and Steelers Locked in Battle After Intense Opening Period
In a closely contested first period, the Sheffield Steelers and Cardiff Devils each found the back of the net, setting the stage for a hard-fought game. Despite a balanced scoreline, the Devils had the edge in key metrics, particularly in the face-off circle, winning 15 of 23 face-offs, and out-shooting the Steelers 15-8.
The Steelers came out strong in the opening minutes, but momentum shifted as the Devils took control in the latter half of the period. The first power play of the game was awarded to the Steelers at 2:05 when Reid Duke was called for hooking Angelo Miceli in the offensive zone. Despite recent struggles on the power play, Marco Vallerand seized the opportunity, charging down the right wing and slipping the puck between the pads and blocker of Devils’ netminder Mac Carruth to give the Steelers a 1-0 lead at 3:24, with assists from Daniel Leavens and Dominic Cormier.
The Devils were soon given a power play of their own when Colton Saucerman was penalized for holding at 5:49. Though Saucerman would later exit the period due to a seemingly minor knock, his absence didn’t immediately impact the Steelers. Both teams then engaged in a midfield standoff, limiting each other’s chances until the Devils leveled the score at 13:34. Tyler Busch capitalized on a turnover near the Steelers’ blue line, driving the puck toward the net and setting up Reid Duke for the equalizer on a back-post finish, with Brett Perlini registering a secondary assist.
A controversial interference call on Kevin Tansey in the 15th minute put the Steelers back on the defensive. However, they managed to kill off the penalty effectively. In the dying minutes, Steelers’ Angelo Miceli was sent on a breakaway with a stretch pass, only to be halted by former teammate Evan Mosey, who thwarted the attempt with a well-timed stick lift. The period concluded at one goal apiece, with both sides poised for an intense showdown in the remaining periods.
Second Period [2-2] – Devils Dominate Shot Count, Steelers Hold Firm as Second Period Ends in a Stalemate
The Cardiff Devils poured on the offensive pressure in the second period, outshooting the Sheffield Steelers by a staggering 40-12 margin. However, despite the lopsided shot count, the Steelers kept themselves in the game with timely bursts of offense and some stellar goaltending.
The period started on a tough note for Sheffield at 21:56 when Cole Shudra was ejected with a five-plus game penalty for cross-checking. In a heated exchange in his own zone, Shudra took issue with Tyler Busch, delivering a series of hard hits against the plexiglass, culminating with Busch down on the ice. Though the cause was unclear, it may have been retaliation for the earlier injury to teammate Colton Saucerman.
Down a man, the Steelers’ penalty killers stepped up, forcing the Devils to take lower-percentage shots from the outside. One such attempt came from Cole Sanford, who fired wide from the left circle. The teams were soon evened up at 26:30 when Josh MacDonald was called for slashing near the net, giving the Steelers a brief power play. It was all they needed, as Marco Vallerand struck again at 27:34, netting his second goal of the night. Set up by a slick sequence from Dominic Cormier and Sacha Guimond, Vallerand surprised the Devils’ defence by firing top shelf from the left wing, putting Sheffield back in the lead.
The Devils, however, weren’t done. They ramped up the intensity, throwing everything at Steelers’ netminder Matt Greenfield, who put on a show, including a highlight-reel diving save to preserve the lead. Greenfield also helped kill off a Kevin Tansey tripping penalty, holding firm under relentless pressure from the Devils.
But Cardiff found their equaliser at 35:14. Reid Duke muscled past Mark Simpson, using his strength to create a breakaway chance and lifting the puck over Greenfield to level the score once more.
With the game tied and everything on the line heading into the third period, the Steelers will aim to tighten up defensively while searching for a go-ahead goal to tip the scales in their favour.
Third Period [5-3] – Devils Outlast Steelers in High-Pressure Battle to Claim Challenge Cup Points
The Cardiff Devils’ relentless offense over sixty minutes ultimately proved too much for the Sheffield Steelers, as the home team secured a two-goal victory and took the two Challenge Cup points on offer. Steelers’ netminder Matthew Greenfield faced an onslaught, turning aside 50 shots to keep his team competitive, while the Steelers managed only 19 shots on the Devils’ net.
The game’s decisive moment came at 49:46 when Cole Sanford scored from a sharp angle on the right wing. Holding the puck an extra beat to open Greenfield’s five-hole, Sanford capitalised with an assist from Kohen Olischefski, putting the Devils up by one. Shortly after, Sheffield’s Kevin Tansey was penalised for slashing MacWilliam, and though the Steelers killed off the penalty, Cardiff soon doubled their lead. A clearing attempt gone wrong saw Ben Davies intercept the puck along the boards, setting up Riley Brandt, who made it 4-2 at 52:26.
Refusing to go quietly, the Steelers responded on the power play after Reid Duke drew an interference call. Mitchell Balmas pulled off a clever fake shot-pass, deceiving Mac Carruth and setting up Mikko Juusola, who scored into an open net at 54:05, assisted by Sacha Guimond. But just 46 seconds later, the Devils struck back, dashing Sheffield’s comeback hopes. Joey Martin fired over a sprawling Greenfield, assisted by Josh MacDonald, to restore the two-goal cushion at 54:51.
Any chance of a last-minute comeback faded when Sacha Guimond was called for hooking at 57:52, as Sanford closed in on Greenfield for one last attempt. With this defeat, the Steelers remain at 15 points through nine Challenge Cup games.
Despite the outcome, Marco Vallerand’s two-goal performance earned him the Steelers’ Man of the Match, while a visiting fan took home the 50/50 raffle prize to soften the journey back home. Next up, the Steelers visit the Nottingham Panthers on Saturday, followed by a home clash against the Belfast Giants on Sunday at 4 p.m.
📸 James Assinder & Rebeeca Brain