In a dramatic last residence league sport of the season, the Sheffield Steelers edged out the Cardiff Devils 3-2 in a shootout on the Utilita Enviornment, preserving their Elite League title ambitions alive heading into the ultimate weekend.
The opening interval was a cagey affair, with each side creating probabilities however unable to search out the online till late. Cardiff struck first at 18:02 via Kohen Olischefski, giving the Devils a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes regardless of a stable defensive effort from the Steelers.
The second interval noticed each groups commerce targets. Evan Mosey doubled Cardiff’s benefit early on, poking in a rebound from shut vary. Sheffield responded at 29:08 as Patrick Watling expertly redirected a Colton Saucerman shot to make it 2-1. Regardless of a spirited push and a powerplay alternative, the Steelers couldn’t discover an equaliser earlier than the break.
Sheffield discovered the breakthrough they wanted early within the third, as Mitchell Balmas buried a rebound to tie the sport 2-2 and ignite the house crowd. Each side had golden alternatives to win it in regulation and extra time, however standout goaltending at each ends stored the rating degree.
Within the shootout, Matthew Greenfield denied all 4 Cardiff makes an attempt, whereas Juusola and Balmas transformed for Sheffield. Greenfield sealed the victory with a blocker save on Tyler Busch, incomes an important further level and preserving the Steelers only one level behind league leaders Belfast Giants heading into the ultimate day.
First Interval [0-1] – Devils Edge Steelers in Cagey First Interval on the Utilita
In entrance of a packed out Utilita Enviornment, the Sheffield Steelers have been left trailing 1-0 after the opening interval of their last residence league sport of the season, because the Cardiff Devils grabbed a late objective to take the early edge on the Utilita Enviornment.
With simply two video games remaining and one level separating Sheffield from league leaders Belfast Giants, the stress was palpable from the opening faceoff. The Steelers welcomed Finlay Ulrick again into the lineup, centring the fourth line alongside Kevin Tansey and Cole Shudra, whereas Reece Kelly sat out.
The guests held a 9-8 benefit in photographs and struck the one blow late within the interval. The Devils went on the powerplay simply 1:51 in as Joona Huttula was known as for tripping, however the Steelers killed it off with out a lot risk.
Moments after returning to full energy, Ben Davies had Cardiff’s first actual look from the slot, just for Matthew Greenfield to carry agency. On the different finish, Marco Vallerand impressed with sensible puck safety in each zones, serving to relieve stress and create area.
Halfway via the interval, Sam Tremblay and Patrick Watling mixed on a quick break, however Watling’s shot missed simply extensive of Ben Bowns’ glove facet.
The Steelers had an opportunity of their very own on the person benefit at 13:04, when Kohen Olischefski was penalised for tripping Mikko Juusola. Mockingly, the Devils practically scored moments earlier than the decision, as Olischefski was left alone on the again publish, just for Greenfield, with assist from a sprawling Juusola, to by some means deny him.
Sheffield’s powerplay produced solely a few half probabilities, together with efforts from Colton Saucerman on the blue line and Kevin Tansey testing Bowns low simply after Cardiff returned to full energy.
Cardiff lastly broke via at 18:02, as Tyler Busch fed Olischefski within the slot, who confirmed composure to beat Greenfield blocker facet with a well-placed end.
The interval ended with the Steelers on the powerplay, as Ryan Barrow was despatched to the field for slashing after repeated jabs at Vallerand.
Second Interval [1-2] – Buying and selling Blows within the Second: Steelers Keep Inside One After Spirited BodyHigh of Kind
The Steelers and Devils traded targets in a full of life second interval, but it surely was the guests who headed into the ultimate body holding a slender 2-1 benefit on this essential penultimate conflict of the league marketing campaign.
Carrying over a powerplay from the dying moments of the primary interval, the Steelers started the second on the entrance foot, however the Devils killed it off with little drama. Brandon Whistle seemed to spark Sheffield early, working laborious behind the Cardiff internet earlier than reducing out in entrance, solely to see his shot slide extensive of the far publish.
The Devils doubled their lead at 24:05, when Evan Mosey pounced on a unfastened puck within the blue paint, nudging it previous Matthew Greenfield after the preliminary effort from Brett Perlini couldn’t be held onto.
However the Steelers hit again simply shy of the half-hour mark. At 29:08, Patrick Watling parked himself in entrance of Ben Bowns and delivered a textbook redirect, expertly tipping a Colton Saucerman blast via the five-hole to convey the house facet again inside one.
Galvanised by the objective, the Steelers started to tilt the ice. Kevin Tansey carved out an opportunity down the left wing earlier than Brien Diffley discovered area within the slot moments later. Watling got here shut once more with one other slick tip-in play, however Bowns was sharp to it, overlaying up earlier than the puck might rebound free.
At 34:19, Cardiff’s Andrew MacWilliam was whistled for interference on Tansey close to the Sheffield blue line. The Steelers moved the puck properly on the following powerplay however have been stored to the perimeter by a disciplined Devils PK unit, unable to carve out the clear opening they have been attempting to find.
Regardless of a robust push from the Steelers, the Devils held on to their 2-1 lead via 40 minutes, organising a dramatic third interval in a sport with main implications for the title race.
Third Interval, Extra time & Penalties [3-2 (pens)] – Steelers Win Shootout Thriller to Hold Title Hopes Alive
The Steelers stored their Elite League title desires alive with a nail-biting shootout win over the Devils, because of a third-period equaliser from Mitchell Balmas and a few shootout heroics at each ends of the ice.
Trailing 2-1 heading into the ultimate body, the Steelers wanted a spark and acquired it at 43:11. After Joona Huttula pressured a pointy leg save from Ben Bowns, the rebound landed completely within the slot for Balmas, who didn’t hesitate to tear a one-timer residence to degree the sport and ignite the house crowd on the Utilita Enviornment.
Probabilities got here thick and quick from each side because the depth ramped up. Matt Greenfield stood tall within the Steelers’ internet, producing an outstanding double save from shut vary; first with the blocker, then a fast response cease on the rebound to disclaim the Devils a response. On the different finish, Kevin Tansey unleashed a booming slapshot, however Bowns held agency.
Each netminders continued to placed on a present, buying and selling huge stops because the clock ticked down. Greenfield got here up huge once more late on, saving low via site visitors, earlier than Robert Dowd practically stole it for Sheffield with a one-time rocket that Bowns managed to smother.
With nothing to separate the perimeters after regulation, the sport moved to extra time, the place it remained a tense, end-to-end affair. The Devils rang one off the iron, whereas Patrick Watling got here inches from profitable it with a blistering one-timer from the left circle—an effort Alex Ovechkin himself would have been happy with—however Bowns wouldn’t be overwhelmed once more.
Within the shootout, it was Greenfield’s second to shine. The Steelers netminder denied all 4 Cardiff makes an attempt, whereas Mikko Juusola and Mitchell Balmas coolly transformed their probabilities. Greenfield sealed it with a blocker save on Tyler Busch, securing the additional level and a dramatic two-point night time for the Steelers.
Balmas was awarded Man of the Match, celebrating in fashion with a little bit of internet “weightlifting” for his post-game “Eddy.” With Belfast Giants additionally choosing up a win in opposition to Nottingham, they remained one level clear on the prime of the desk. The league title now hinges on the ultimate night time of the season. The Steelers want a win over Coventry Blaze within the hope that the Nottingham Panthers can take at the very least a degree off Belfast to swing the trophy race again in our favour.
With Steelers match report
