Sheffield Steelers 2-1 Cardiff Devils
Crowd 3579

Sheffield missing Steve Duncombe and Gavin Farrand.

Another tight play-off style game, which Sheffield clinched very late as Gerad Adams stabbed home the puck at 58:06. It keeps Sheffield 5 wins clear at the top with 9 games left.

Devils looked the more impressive throughout the first period, Russ Romaniuk stick-handling his way through from the right to shoot just wide 2 minutes in. Ivan Matulik and Adams clashed in the Cardiff zone, the Cardiff skipper picking up an extra 2 minutes, but Cugnet had just one save to make whilst Dennis Maxwell and Jason Becker tested Bronsard.

Over-eager to make the remaining seconds of the powerplay count, Brent Bobyck took a holding penalty at the Cardiff end and Devils scored. Romaniuk's shot bounced off Bronsard, Sacratini pushed the puck across to ex-Steeler Jeff Brown who netted (06:36).

With Gerad Adams sitting a high sticks penalty, Mike Peron forced his way to the net and then seconds later forced a good stop. Back to full strength Sheffield began to assert themselves to the first interval.

Again the visitors started the second period the brighter, lots of pressure but no shots. With Jonathon Phillips sitting a penalty, Cugnet dropped a Kirk DeWaele shot but his defence cleared. James Manson was next in the box and Sheffield's powerplay found the net, Erik Anderson netting a rebound from close-in (29:02).

With ref Kirkhnm trying to the let the game flow, Gerad Adams then Matt Meyers talked their way to 10 minute misconducts. Another Cardiff penalty saw Sheffield maintain the pressure but Cugnet was in fine form.

80 seconds into the final period Gerad Adams fired the puck home, but after consulting a linesman ref Kirkham ruled the game had been whistled down before the puck entered the net.

Sheffield were now creating all the chances and Cugnet pulled off a stunning save, gloving Ben Bliss' shot when prostrate on the ice. With 9 minutes left Cugnet did the splits to deny Peron and overtime was looking ever more likely. Twice Maxwell made Bronsard produce fine saves but the pressure was one-way and Adams buried the puck from close in.

Devils lifted their keeper with 65 seconds left and called a timeout near the Sheffield net 6 seconds later. But Bronsard didn't have a save to make as Sheffield held on.