Steelers 3 Devils 4 (After OT & Penalty Shots)

With no Panthers game tonight it was a trip to see the great unwashed as league leading Steelers took on the Cardiff Devils. Now, readers may be aware that there has been a little bit of needle in these games this season, so it was with great expectations of a blood bath that I went to Sheffield Arena, especially as Steelers irritant and my number one hate figure Ryan Finnerty had ‘promised’ to sort out Devils forward Jay Latulippe in the press several weeks ago. I was hoping that tonight would see Finnerty on the end of a particularly heavy Brad Voth check, sadly I was to be disappointed!

The first period was quite scrappy, neither team seemed to take hold of the game, but Sheffield were looking the better side and took the lead in the 15th minute when Doug Sheppard scored on a two on one break. Devils held on until the break and it was 1-0 to Steelers, however there was no sign of any rough stuff breaking out!

The second period saw the turning point of the game. Steve Munn was correctly given a 2+10 for checking to the head by referee Andy Carson and his time off the ice would see four goals scored. Sheffield hate figure Brad Voth scored the equaliser on the resulting powerplay, which was the cue for much booing and gnashing of teeth from the locals! Steelers retook the lead after Jeff Legue took a superb pass from Joey Talbot to go one on one with Peter Aubry and score. I was expecting the floodgates to then open, but it was Cardiff who seized the initiative scoring twice, the third trickling through Jody Lehman and into the net. My rather loud shout of “He’ll want that one back” while sporting a massive grin lead to some incredibly filthy looks from the locals. The period ended 3-2 to the Devils and still no sign of bloodshed!

The Steelers equalised 59 seconds into the final period as Brad Cruikshank scored, but despite looking like the team more likely to win it, they couldn’t find a winner and Devils held on to take the game into overtime. Still no sign of benches clearing!

Overtime was like the Alamo as Steelers laid siege to Aubry’s net, but the sudden death winner wouldn’t come and it was a penalty shoot-out to decide the victor. Cardiff took the points after winning the shoot-out 2-1, I was very happy to say the least.

I thought Steelers looked the most nervous I’ve seen them all season, they actually looked like the pressure of being in top spot was getting to them and Lehman had a shocker by his usually high standards. However, tonight’s loss will only be good for us if we can take advantage by beating Edinburgh tomorrow. Steelers are at home again to Belfast, I’d bet they are not looking forward to it! However a good win for Cardiff and a very entertaining game from the neutral perspective.

As for Finnerty, apart from a small coming together in OT, he did nothing to act on his media threats. As usual Finnerty proves he is all mouth and no trousers, and had a very poor game. Did anyone really expect any different?