Welcome to the match report from Wednesday night's game against the Cardiff Devils.
After enjoying a four point weekend with wins against Guildford and Coventry respectively, Steelers headed into their midweek game against Champions-Elect Cardiff in good spirits. Having beaten the Welsh side 6-2 on the Devils last trip to South Yorkshire: the question was could the Steelers halt the red juggernaut which is heading towards back-to-back league titles? Devils were at full strength as were the Steelers, who added Kieran Brown back to the ranks. Defenceman Zack Fitzgerald still sat as the spare import for a third successive game.
Steelers had the first shot on goal after just five seconds, Matt Marquardt finding the glove of Devils South Yorkshireman Ben Bowns. Yet in almost the next play, the Devils were ahead. A pass across the crease caught out the Steelers and Joey Martin was unmarked to score probably one of the easiest goals of his professional career after 30 seconds play. It was that easy, he could have netted with his eyes closed. Devils were not allowing Steelers to get into a rhythm and doubled their lead at 8:22, Matt Pope getting that all decisive touch from a Joey Haddad shot high right circle. A scramble in front of Bowns' cage was Steelers best effort but Devils managed to survive before adding a third goal three and half minutes before the period end, defenceman Andrew Hotham depositing the rebound after a shot hit the post.
There was more urgency about the Steelers in the second period as they looked to get back into the game, but it seemed to be at times to be more huff and very little puff as the Devils stood firm. Just after the midway point of that period, Steelers thought they had got on the board when Levi Nelson put the puck home but referee Tom Pering adjudged the puck had been kicked in. A minute or so later, Steelers again thought they had scored through Mathieu Roy this time but Pering waved that off too: goaltender interference the decision apparently. It also sparked a spot of fisticuffs between Steelers Andreas Jämtin and Devils Bryce Reddick in the commotion that followed.
More Steelers pressure came in the third period, but Steelers were finding Bowns a tough nut to crack. The Swinton native was in no mood to concede against the club he supported as a boy, but now apparently has a dislike for. Devils had a few chances to extend their lead to four but a well judged stick save from Ervins Mustukovs denied Sean Bentivoglio after the forward had broken through 2 on 1 with Patrick Asselin. It ended 3-0 to the visitors and another win close to the title for Andrew Lord's men.
Time for the statistics:
Goals: Steelers 0 Devils 3
Steelers Scoring: Nobody!
Devils Scoring: Richardson 0+2, Haddad 0+2, Hotham 1+0, Pope 1+0, Martin 1+0, Asselin 0+1, Reddick 0+1.
Shots On Goal: Steelers 26 Devils 20
Powerplay: Steelers 0 from 3 (0% conversion), Devils 0 from 1 (0% conversion)
Penalty Minutes called: Steelers 7 Devils 11
Steelers Goaltender Stats: Mustukovs 17 Saves (1151), GAA: 3.00 (2.35), Save Percentage: 85.00% (91.60%).
Man of the Match: Andreas Jämtin (Steelers), Mark Richardson (Devils)
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