Devils deny Steelers late comeback

Photograph from last night's game courtsey of Helen Fryer: http://hfryerphotography.smugmug.com.

Cardiff Devils welcomed arch rivals the Sheffield Steelers to the Cardiff Bay Arena for this Sky Sports televised league game.

Devils were without Wes Jarvis and Alex Symonds but managed to start the game in the ascendency as Max Birbraer fed Captain Brad Voth for the first chance of the game early on, but Andrew Verner was able to save with the pads. Cardiff went on the Power Play as a result of an infringement on Voth, and came close to breaking the deadlock as they pressurised the Steelers goal.

Devils finally got the go ahead goal at 3:49 when Mike Hartwick shot from the blue line, and the puck found its way into the Sheffield net via an apparent deflection from Birbraer as he tried to jump out of the way of the initial shot. Sheffield went right on the attack from the restart and a good Stevie Lyle save kept them at bay. At the other end, a scramble in front of the Steelers net almost allowed Cardiff to double their lead when Verner dropped the puck, but the Devils were unable to convert the chance.

 

The game slipped into an even match up as both teams tried to get the upper hand, but Cardiff finished the period on the offensive as first Tylor Michel forced a good save from Verner and soon after Scott Romfo rifled a shot from the blue line that rattled off the post with the Sheffield netminder rooted to the spot.

 

Cardiff came out for the 2^nd period with an increased tempo and an extra physical edge to their game. Chances were being created at both ends, and Jay Latulippe had a great opportunity after he latched onto a pass from Birbraer after great work along the boards and drove the net, only to see his effort saved.

 

Around the 26 minute mark, Tylor Michel and Brad Cruikshank had a small altercation with the Sheffield man receiving 2 minutes for slashing and a further 2 mins for roughing, with Michel getting a 2 mins interference call. Devils fans an players alike were incensed by this call as they were convinced the Sheffield man had been guilty of a spearing offence.

 

Sheffield killed off the Devils Power Play but at 28:57 Jay Latulippe did manage to double Cardiff’s lead after being fed in front on the net by Phil Hill, where he was able to squeeze the puck under Verner. Less than 4 minutes later and Birbraer grabbed the Devils 3^rd when he picked up the puck on the boards and ghosted past the Sheffield defence with ease and slotted in with a great finish, goal timed at 32:31. Sheffield responded as Cruikshank forced a good glove save from Lyle but generally the Devils were doing a great job in forcing the Steelers to only get shots in from distance. Cardiff almost grabbed a 4^th late in the period when Mike Hartwick got to a loose puck and got a quick shot off that seemed to go through Andrew Verner, but the puck just stopped right on the goal line and Sheffield were able to clear just before it was poked over.

 

Devils started the 3^rd period with Brad Voth in the box, but again Cardiff were able to shut down the power play. Mark Smith created a chance out of nothing as he drove the net, but Verner dislodged the posts as the puck bobbled about in front of him. Soon after Voth got a good shot off that that went through Verner’s five hole, but he just managed to get enough on the puck to prevent it creeping over the line.

 

Cardiff again managed to shut down another Sheffield power play, but soon after they gave up a 2 on 1 break allowing Jeff Legue to feed Joey Talbot, who shot past Lyle at 51:51. With the momentum now with the visitors, Cardiff found it hard to create many chances themselves, but Max Birbraer did well to control a puck and get a shot off as the Devils looked to kill off the game.

 

With time running out, Cardiff hit penalty trouble as firstly Matt Miller was harshly judged for a tripping call, and soon after Mark Smith was called for a delay of game as he cleared the puck directly over the plexi-glass. With the resulting 5 on 3 power play, Sheffield laid siege on the Cardiff goal, but the Devils thought they had a strong penalty claim when Mike Hartwick was roughed up but no call came and Sheffield managed to score as a result, with Joey Talbot again getting the goal at 58:03 despite protests from the Cardiff players that the roughing call on Hartwick was not called.

 

With a tense final few minutes of the game, Sheffield pulled Verner as they searched for the equaliser but the Devils were able to hold out for the victory, despite the score-line not justifying the overall game that the Devils had played.

• EL
• PL
• NL1N
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• NL2S

• Galbraith penalty wins it in Cardiff
• Voth calls it time
• Devils take one goal lead to Belfast
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• Caps run Devils close in Cardiff

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