Cardiff Devils 6-2 Sheffield Steelers: Hosts claim superb win in feisty affair at the Vindico

By Eleanor Clifton

Cardiff Devils gained a revenge win against Sheffield Steelers in a hostile showdown at the Vindico Arena.

In what was an 800th Elite League appearance for Devils defenceman Josh Batch, there was all the needle you would expect between two long-standing rivals of the British game.

The first period was even, with the Devils’ Evan Mosey missing a good chance in the second minute.

Devils bossed the puck and defended solidly, but couldn’t find a way through in attack.

Halfway through the first period, the Steelers began to apply pressure and in the 13^th minute, Mitchell Balmas, assisted by Marc-Oliver Vallerand, opened the scoring for the visitors.

But the lead did not last long.

Three minutes later Mosey levelled, from an assist by Gleason Fournier and Ben Almquist – the latter’s first assist as a Devil on his home debut.

The second period became scrappy with all players fighting for the puck.

Zach O’Brien  and Jarrod Gourley were able to take advantage of play to assist Kohen Olischefski  in scoring in the 30^th minute, giving the Devils the lead for the first time.

However, just as when the Steelers had claimed the opening goal, that lead didn’t last long as Mark Simpson equalised from an assist by Vallerand.

Both teams played end-to-end hockey to close out the second period, which ended 2-2.

And the pattern continued into the third period, with the Devils having lots of chances to score.

Big hits were getting thrown from both sides, and passes were sloppy – neither team were able to complete.

In the 47^th minute, the Devils took the lead again with goal by Joey Martin, assisted by Josh McDonald and Ryan Barrow.

Soon after the Devils received a penalty kill after Batch was done for tripping. But, that didn’t affect Cardiff, as Fournier was almost able to score.

In the 54^th minute, Cole Sanford added to the Cardiff tally, from an assist by O’Brien and Olichefski, making the score 4-2 to the Devils.

Steelers then took their keeper, Matthew Greenfield, off, to have an extra player for the last two minutes of play.

But it was to no avail.

By the closing stages the Devils were well on top and further strikes by Cody Donaghey and Joey Martin rounded off an emphatic victory.

The Devils’ next game is away on February 28 to Glasgow Clan, while the Steelers face Coventry Blaze a day later.