Cardiff Devils 5, Sheffield Steelers 6

after sudden death overtime

Cardiff Devils suffered heartbreak in the Elite League Challenge Cup final in Nottingham.

They led 3-1, took the game into overtime at 5-5 and were beaten when Sheffield Steelers scored a sudden death winner after 94 minutes.

Man of the match had produced remarkable saves to keep Devils in the match as they tired in overtime, but they gave everything in the quest for the Grand Slam.

No club has ever won all four trophies in the 14 years since Elite League was formed, but Devils won the League, Challenge Cup and Erhardt Conference before losing in the final match of 2016-17.

Hundreds of Devils fans roared their team on, but it wasn’t to be.

The tension was excruciating, the fans could scarcely find the courage to watch as both teams went close to a winner, but then Levin Nelson fired Sheffield in front.

The celebrations started for Sheffield. Cardiff players and fans were together in their bitter disappointment.

Devils took control of the final during the first period, scoring two powerplay goals and building a 3-1 lead.

John Armstrong was caught up in controversy when he crashed into Devils netminder Ben Bowns, which led to chants of ‘dirty, dirty Steelers’ ringing around the rink.

Doucet punished Armstrong’s challenge when he fired home on the PP after two minutes 20 seconds.

An error by Haddad gave Armstrong the chance to skate away from halfway and he smashed a shot high over Bowns and into the net to make it 1-1.

Devils created a series of chances with David Brine (twice) and Sean Bentivoglio going close, while Cardiff also hit the inside of a post with the puck flying across goal behind Steelers goalie Ervins Mustukovs.

At the other end Colton Fretter really should have done better when he was left alone in front of Cardiff’s net, but his shot was saved superbly by Bowns.

Injured American forward Denny Kearny was missing from the Devils, whose starting line-up was Martin, Andrew Lord and Patrick Bordeleau. Sean Bentivoglio soon joined Lord and Martin later shifts.

Devils picked up an early minor penalty for too many men in the second period and Geoff Walker fifed Sheffield’s second goal when his shot dipped past Bowns after 24-34.

Even worse was to come for Devils when Colton Fretter levelled the scores when he fired past Bowns after 25-53 to make it 3-3.

Cardiff were reeling and Sheffield took the lead on 28-45 with Levin Nelson, in front of Cardiff’s net, tipping in a shot.

Steelers were winning battles all over the ice and Devils were hanging on, but then Haddad took control when he drove at Steelers defence.

Mustukovs, in the Sheffield net, blocked the shot and Layne Ulmer followed up to score after 32-20.

Steelers were shooting at every opportunity and when Markus Nilsson completely miscued the puck ran straight to Walker, who was able to score (37-23) and put his team 6-5 ahead.

There was another problem for Devils when Andrew Hotham was hit off the puck and collapsed to the ice. He had to be helped back to the changing room.

The big D-man was able to return after treatment and quickly scored the goal to make it 5-5 (40-54).

Minutes later Patrick Asselin scooped a shot onto a post with Steelers goal Mustukovs beaten.

There were no more goals in regulation time and the final was decided in sudden death overtime.

Players on both teams were tiring fast, suffering from cramp and couldn’t find the jump needed. Bowns made three big saves to deny Steelers, while Devils also created chances

Match stats:

Devils: Guillaume Doucet 1+0, Joey Martin 1+0, Joey Haddad 1+1, Layne Ulmer 1+0, Andrew Hotham 1+2, Patrick Asselin 0+1, Scott Hotham 0+1.

Steelers: John Armstrong 1+0, Geoff Walker 2+0, Colton Fretter 1+0, Levi Nelson 2+0, Ben O’Connor 0+2, Luke Ferrara 0+1, Cole Shudra 0+1, Mathieu Roy 0+1, Markus Nilsson 0+1.

Period scores (Devils first): 3-1; 1-4 (4-5); 1-0 (5-5); 0-1 (5-6).

Powerplays: Devils 3/3; Steelers 1/2.

Shots on goal: Devils (on Mustukovs) 11+7+11+11=40, Steelers (on Bowns) 10+17+6+18=51.

Penalties in minutes: Devils 0+4+0+0=10; Steelers 4+6+0+0=10.

Referees: Toby Craig and Dean Smith.