Steelers take lead of Cup group A

Photo: Dean Woolley

Sheffield Steelers moved top of Challenge Cup Group A with two-goal win over Cardiff Devils in front of over 7,000 fans at the Utilita Arena.

Early penalties put the Steelers on the front-foot and saw them eventually take the lead. On their third powerplay of the game, following a penalty to Tyler Busch for Kneeing, Marc-Olivier Vallerand came in at the back post to put the Steelers ahead with Bowns pulled out of position and 9:33 played. The period ended with the hosts just one ahead, althoguh it could have been more as they heavily outshot their Welsh visitors.

Three minutes into period two, a Kevin Tansey shot was re-directed past Bowns by Angelo Miceli in front for his first Steelers goal and their second on the night. At 30:58 the Devils’ breakout didn’t work as planned with Josh MacDonald mishandling the puck in the neutral zone, allowing Daniel Ciampini to turn the puck over. His intended feed to Brandon Whistle was blocked, but the puck bounced perfectly to Mark Simpson to finish into a gaping net and make it 3-0. The Steelers were good value for their lead through 40 minutes, restricting the Devils to just eight shots.

Cardiff needed something, and whatever Pete Russell said in the locker room got the response he wanted. 23 seconds into the final period a Koen Olischefski shot from the point was tipped in front by Tyler Busch past Matt Greenfield to put the visitors on the board. Some seven minutes later, Cole Sanford's excellent wrist shot beat Greenfield top shelf on the powerplay to make it a one-goal game with just over 12 minutes still left to play.

When Mikko Juusola was called for High-Sticking with 7:53 to play the visitors again went to work, but they almost conceded on the delayed penalty with a mis-placed racing towards the empty net but just wide. Having failed to score with the extra skater and time ticking away, Bowns was pulled with 30 seconds to play. The Steelers turned the puck over immediately though and saw Mark Simpson slot into the empty net just nine seconds later to wrap things up for the Steelers.