Devils edge Steelers in OT

Photo: David Williams

An entertaining game went the distance and into overtime before Cardiff scored the decisive goal and beat Sheffield 5-4.

Things were tied after the opening period at Ice Area Wales which saw both goalies pull off some good and unusual saves - Mac Carruth diving to block the puck at the faceoff circle, and Barry Brust heading the puck away among the action in the first 20 minutes.

Trevor Cox beat Brust blocker side on the breakaway to give the Devils the lead 6:17 into the game, but they were pegged back when Robert Dowd was offered enough space to sipe home from the slot at 13:53. Carruth pulled off an excellent stop on John Armstrong with the Steleers through 2-on-0 in the dying seconds.

The run and gun nature of the game continued in period two with three goals. Sheffield went ahead shorthanded just 82 seconds in through Martin Latal, but Cardiff levelled when Ben Davies was allowed to walk out in front from behind the net and slot home at 30:24.

Sheffield regained the lead four minutes later through Armstrong in close on the powerplay but an excellent backhanded finish from Davies on the breakaway high into Brusts' net tied things up at 37:53. Josh Lammon then put the Devils back into the lead with 20 seconds left in the period.

Polak fired home off Latal's feed o a 2-on-1 rush to tie the game with ten minutes to go and set up an exciting final stage of the third period. Cardiff thought they should have been ahead again with 8:48 to go, but the goal was washed out as the net was off its moorings, a call upheld after video review.

Cardiff won the game in overtime when Brenda Mikkelson came in on a loose puck 2:38 into the bonus period.