Sheffield Steelers 1-1 Cardiff Devils

Sheffield missing Gavin Farrand, Cardiff missing Jonathon Phillips and Dave Matsos.

2911 fans were surprised to find there was no overtime played at the end of this game.

Cardiff really should have secured both points during the first 40 minutes, before Sheffield rallied in the final session as both teams visibly tired. Sheffield's cause was not helped when Gerad Adams had to be helped off with a knee injury in the 27th minute, after catching a skate at Devils' left post. He is unlikely to play again for at least a week.

Devils started the brighter, and when Dion Darling was robbed John Cullen raced clear but Jayme Platt made a blocker save.

Just over a minute later Devils were ahead. Russ Romaniuk sent Nathan Rempel clear down the right. Dave Cousineau threw himself down to prevent the pass inside to John Cullen, but Rempel netted over Jayme Platt's left shoulder from 5 feet (5:21).

Five minutes later, Peron had the puck whipped off his toes at the back post. Devils took a too many men penalty soon after, but Jason Cugnet didn't have a save to make.

But Steelers tied the game when Cousineau fed the puck up to Mike Peron on Cardiff's blue line. The forward muscled his way round the defence to the goal crease where he squeezed the puck home (16:28).

Cardiff continued to pressure Sheffield, and when Mark Dutiaume took a high stick penalty late in the period, Platt made two stops from the lively Rempel.

With both teams working so hard to deny space, chances were at a premium early in the second. Jeff Burgoyne tested Platt before Erik Anderson found Peron in space 12 feet out, but Cugnet was equal to the shot.

Veteran Ron Shudra did enough to upend Vezio Sacratini as he tried to get behind the defence, but Platt still had to turn the puck aside. Rempel then blasted wide from the left when well placed.

The next spell of Sheffield pressure saw Adams exit the game. Within a minute the Anderson-Jeff Christian-Peron combination produced two good chances, with Cugnet denying Peron from 8 feet and then freezing Christian's left wing shot.

Back came Devils and Romaniuk fired into Platt's chest from the left. Then Platt did well to blank Burgoyne as he popped up on the doorstep.

Cousineau rammed Rempel into the net and the pair took interference and roughing minors respectively. On the 4-on-4 play NHLer Rob Davison checked Shudra so hard the defenceman lost his stick. As Shudra struggled to contain Cullen, Davison skated inside to receive Cullen's pass but Platt produced a stunning glove save high to his left when Davison seemed certain to score.

With the teams back at full strength Christian really should have converted stood at Cugnet's left post, but the goalie made another good stop.

As the period drew to a close all the pressure was from Cardiff, with ex-Steeler Kirk DeWaele's big shots proving a constant menace.

Early in the final session Christian got away but Burgoyne got back to cover, then Cullen's breakway saw John Craighead blast over from 10 feet.

Within a minute Anderson's left wing shot was blocked by Rempel. Peron, low on the left, caught the puck in mid-air, but Cugnet stood tall. Anderson was twice denied as Sheffield kept up the pressure.

With 10 minutes left DeWaele stepped up to first-time a bullet just wide of Platt's left post. Five minutes later Darling's backhander was padded wide by Cugnet.

With the clock running down Craighead and Christian both forced saves in a desperate attempt to find a winner.