Devils blank Steelers in dominant win
Photo: Dean Woolley
The Cardiff Devils put on an excellent road performance to shut out the Sheffield Steelers in their own building for the first time since January 2019 with a dominant 5-0 win.
In a game that the Devils really needed to win to ensure the Steelers didn't pull to far ahead at the top of the Premier Sports Elite League table, Cardiff got off to an incredible start which stunned the 7,637 crowd at the Utilita Arena.
The warning signs were there for the Steelers early on with Matt Register jumping in on a 3-on-2 rush but shooting just wise early on. On the very next play, Brandon McNally broke down the win 2-on-1 and set up Sam Duggan for the finish with an inch-perfect pass at 3:30.
Just shy of the seven-minute mark, the Devils profited from a defensive zone turnover which allowed Justin Crandall to break 3-on-1, but he needed no help in shooting past Rok Stojanovič blocker side. A great opening period for the visitors got even better when Brodie Dupont won the puck too easily in the corner and found Cole Sandford in front for the top-shelf finish. Stojanovič was pulled having let in three goals on six shots as Aaron Fox tried to inject some life into his team.
Period two started no better for the hosts, however. Tanner Eberle was binned for hooking with 23 seconds gone, and just four seconds into the man advantage Brandon McNally tipped Matt Register's point shot off the draw that McNally won to make it 4-0.
Anthony DeLuca had the Steelers' best chance for a way back into the game but MacCarruth showed good patience to outlast DeLuca's dangles and make a save which proved crucial. On the very next play, the Devils broke straight up the ice, Barry Brust was called on to make an excellent save, but the Devils kept possession to eventually allow Sanford to net his second of the night at 25:29.
The game continued in the Devils' favour with odd-man rushes a plenty in the second half of the middle period. Brodie Reid had a couple of chances to add more to the Devils' total but couldn't beat Brust, while at the other end Kevin Schulze shooting straight into Carruth's glove from point-blank range kept the Steelers off the board.
Period three was a much less intense affair as the Devils ensured they protected their lead and help Carruth out on his way to a 21-shot shutout. Stojanovič returned to the Steelers' net for the final period without conceding a goal.
The Devils' win puts them seven points behind the Steelers in the standings with three games in hand. Sheffield are in IIHF Continental Cup action next weekend in Denmark.
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