Tuesday 25 October 2011

Cardiff Devils @ Sheffield Steelers (CC) 23/10/11

Devils 3, Steelers 5 - Final

  Despite the crushing victory over the Dundee Stars the previous night, the Cardiff Devils lost out to the Sheffield Steelers in their most recent Challenge Cup match-up.  With Captain Stuart MacRae and defensemen Mark Smith still missing from the line-up, the Devils ended up on the wrong side of a 5-3 final score.

  The first period saw a variety of penalties, including a 2 + 10 received by Chris Frank for a check from behind.  We also saw a goal from Max Birbraer (04:12), countered by two from Sheffield.  The first came from Jeff Legue (06:49) and the second from MOM Colt King (14:11).

  The second saw two goals for each side, with the score going up to 4-3 Sheffield.  The first goal of the period came from Lee Esders (24:33).  Obviously not liking the fact that Sheffield now had a two goal lead, the Devils rallied to score, with Scott Dobben putting one away, unassisted (32:25).  Jeff Legue put the difference back to two with his second of the night and Brad Voth added Cardiff's third (38:48) to finish the period 4-3 Steelers.

  Despite the Devils' best efforts they couldn't get the puck behind DeCaro in the third, and, with Colt King scoring his second of the night (58:22), the Steelers secured a win, final score 5-3.

  Make sure you get your tickets for this Saturday's match-up at the BBT, when the Coventry Blaze come to town.  When the Devils and the Blaze met last, in the Sky Dome, the Devils came away with a 2-0 win.  Get down to the BBT and see if they can do it again.  Let's Go Devils!

Cardiff Devils vs Dundee Stars 22/10/11

Devils 7, Stars 3 - Final

  Looks like the Cardiff Devils have seen the (goal) light and showed the Dundee Stars what hockey players are made of in Cardiff.  With a collective total of ten goals throughout the sixty minutes, plus a certain giant's first fight of the season, the BBT was the place to be on Saturday night.

  During the first we saw the first of the seven Devils' goals, coming from Man of the Match Max Birbraer, from Davies and Pierce (19:19).  Also throughout the first, we saw the Stars hit the penalty box three times, Turner for slashing, Wishart for hooking and Zarb with a 2 + 10 for a check from behind.

  Moving into the second and it was double time!  Double the amount of goals and double the amount of penalties.  Included in those penalties were Gerad Adams and Brennan Turner, who dropped the gloves at 22:07.  The action died down for a bit, before Jeff Pierce lit the lamp, doubling the Devils' lead (35:07).  The Stars managed to bring the difference back to one, after Dan Ceman put one on the board (38:10).

  Now the third is where it gets really interesting.  This time last week, the Devils let it slip, at home, in the third, with Belfast finishing the game 6-2.  This week it was a completely different story.  Five goals in twenty minutes!  The first, giving the Devils a 3-1 lead, came from Jeff Pierce (40:34).  MOM Max Birbraer made it 4-1 when he scored on a penalty shot (46:14).  With the Devils already 4-1 up, Pierce made the night even better when he got his hat-trick, making it 5-1.  AJ McLean got one in for Dundee, making it 5-2, but Tim Burrows and Luke Piggot cemented the Devils' win with one each.

  With the Devils' scoring finished it was time for one last piece of action.  At 56:51, Canadian giant Brad Voth dropped the gloves for the first time this season, going against Brennan Turner, who was given a game penalty after receiving two majors in one game (after a fight with Adams in the second).  Voth also received a 2-minute minor for boarding and 2 + 10 for instigating.

  In the dying minutes of the game, Dundee made a last ditch attempt, with Alan Matur giving the Stars their third goal, but the game finished 7-3.