Review vs Steelers; Key Moments from THAT Game

League Record So Far; 33 – 11 – 3, 69pts, 2nd Place

Devils hosted an expectant Steelers side midweek, where the implications were huge. A win for Steelers and its party time in the Welsh capital, their first league title in several seasons and first since their last, also on this pad. A loss, then their wait will have to be extended to at least Sunday vs Flames.

This game did not disappoint. Unless you were a Steeler.

There is no other way to describe this game other than in three simple words.

Determined. Dominant. Defiant.

That was definitely the game plan for this clash, where the visitors brought their staff, a good number of fans and were ready to party in anticipation for their well earned prize.

But as Devils social media highlighted after the game was called, Not On Our Ice.

From start to finish, each period there was only one team that looked like they wanted to win and that wasn’t the champions elect.

Every battle, every puck, every pass, every chase, every hit, every shot, every scramble, every tussle, every fight, every call – challenge accepted and accomplished.

Goal or No Goal?

It should have been 5 past Greenfield in that game. Where a juggernaut slamming the OZ each time they skated with the puck, easing through each phase with skillful ease, the power play was converted by a great Donaghey snipe mid to low slot early in the first.

The goal was waved off for goalie interference, below is an overview of the criteria for a challenge.

Taken from EIHL rulebook

The criteria clearly lists what would make a goal disallowable on the play following a review. The replays shown suggest there was no impeding of the goalie position, no contact in the blue paint (main one) and contact was primarily initiated by the goalie (which rules out a no goal call).

The goalie was more than able to play his position and even though he instigated an attempt to interfere with the opposing player, the player lifted his arm to avoid contact whilst outside the blue paint – this goal should have stood. Big call to make, but ultimately, to no total consequence.

If this had been ruled as it should, then not only the goal should have stood, but a double minor penalty for the failed challenge and interference on the Devils player, which would have made it a 5 on 3 power play.

By The Stanza

Nevertheless, despite a first period of total dominance the game remained scoreless after the initial frame. Devils outclassed their opponents with 12:5 for SOG. The PIMS were quite low, just 2 each in this dance, however things were starting to heat up with afters flaring and Steelers getting intimidated early on.

The second dance saw a lot more open play as there was a brief but feeble push back from the visitors, this is where the game started to boil over yet produce fantastic entertainment.

Trevor Cox converted on the power play with a sublime wrist shot through Greenfield to officially get the home crowd rocking. This penalty was the start of a period of chaos after each attacking phase drew the ire of the Steelers defence, with Greenfield losing his cool very rapidly.

The PIMS stacked up, particularly at the end when Bowns faced a shot after the buzzer sounded. 7 penalties were called during this period of play, as frustrations boiled over and discipline waned.

Before the end of this frame, Alderson put the good guys 2 up from a sublime play, that proceeded a flurry of attempted hits from Kevin Tansey, who took exception to quite a high hit by Alderson earlier on, which allowed the puck to be skilfully played through the defence and isolate Greenfield once again.

Devils weathered another penalty to start the third, which Steelers were unable to capitalise on, but Bowns and his men were staunch and ferocious in closing out this challenge.

Arniel tapped in a great offensive effort from the team, driven relentlessly by Barrow for much of the game to make it 3 nothing. The barn was bouncing at this stage.

Hot Points

Arniel also lead in SOG (7) across both teams, collecting two points on the night. The nearest was Sanford, Crawford and Watling (6 SOG each).

Devils were more clinical on net, despite being edged for shots overall, with 48:34 on goal, earning a shutout and 8.33% shot efficiency.

100% PK strengthened for the Devils overall, staying third with 79.86%.

On the power play, they finally reached the summit on the season, with 28.17%, marginally ahead of Steelers. It has been a building enterprise, which has seen at least one goal per game on the man advantage.

The other side to this has now seen the Devils land in 10th for PIM/Game at 12.57, where as Steelers sit in top spot currently with 8.06.

Bowns earned back to back to shutouts, including his 5th of the season.

Gloves were dropped, Devils reigned strong in this area, as both Brandt and Rymsha over powered their opponents with visible ease. In all fairness, the game was building to this as both teams built up the physicality and aggression.

Devils are now 3:2 on this series with a road game left to play against the leaders. It will surely be a tense occasion as they do not like losing, especially in the manner they have the last two games they have played. Can Devils close this series out again or will Steelers tie it on this campaign?

Up Next

Devils continue their home stand on Sunday vs Panthers, who have hit a slump of late, losing 4 of their last 5GP. The last time these two met ended in a rare road victory for the good guys, who will be looking to consolidate their own position, whilst maintaining their record in this period of games, so far unbeaten in regulation.