Devils strike late to deny Steelers victory

The 24-year-old American fired a fierce wrist shot through traffic and past an unsighted Ervins Mustukovs in the Steelers goal to leave each team with a point, enough to keep Cardiff at the top of Group B.

It marked the end of a stirring comeback by Gerad Adam's side after a Jeff Legue strike early in the third had left them trailing by three goals.

Afterwards, Steelers' player-coach Ben Simon admitted his players hadn't worked hard enough in the third period and got what they deserved.

"Our defensive play was atrocious," said Simon. "We didn't work hard enough - that game should have been ours but we didn't finish the job.

"They are a good team and we knew that going in. The same thing happened last time we played them in their barn when they scored a late goal. We knew that but unfortunately we didn't learn."

With Neil Clark back in the line-up after missing the weekend's two league victories over Newcastle Vipers, Steelers had raced into an early lead after only 94 seconds from Rob Globke, although Scott Matska quickly cancelled that out on the powerplay on five minutes.

Globke regained the lead for the hosts at 7.10 but the visitors showed they were not to be written off when Pelle levelled with his first of the night four minutes later.

Steelers - again missing influential defenceman Rod Sarich with a niggling back injury - enjoyed the better chances and possession for the remainder of the opening period and were rewarded when Simon scored twice on the powerplay in the last five minutes to give his team a deserved 4-2 lead going into the second.

Cardiff made it a one-goal game through Matska's second powerplay effort of the night at 28.40 in what was a far quieter second period. But Steelers again made the most of their powerplay unit when Joe Talbot fired home at 39.45 to restore the home side's two-goal cushion.

That became a more comfortable three-goal lead 78 seconds into the third when Legue was fed by Jonathan Phillips before slapping a shot from the blue line past Steve Lyle's outstretched glove.

Given their blistering start to the Elite League season, it would have been safe to assume Steelers would hold onto their advantage but a never-say-die attitude from the Devils - who beat Steelers 5-4 in the opening group game 10 days ago - ensured a tense finale.

Tyler Michel was quick to reduce the three-goal deficit only 31 seconds after Legue's goal and, with almost 12 minutes remaining Phil Hill made it a one-goal game again as Cardiff piled on the pressure in a final period which saw them plunder 19 shots in comparison to Steelers' meagre five.

And with Lyle pulled to provide the extra skater, a face-off win saw the puck slide to Pelle who hit a rasping shot through a crowd of players and past Mustukovs to grab a share of the points.

AFTER weeks of uncertainty, the saga regarding new Steelers' forward Derek Campbell ended on Wednesday afternoon when it was revealed his visa has now been granted.

It means he should be in the line-up to face Edinburgh Capitals when they pay their first visit of the season to South Yorkshire on Saturday night.

"I'm very happy that the situation has been resolved and I am now looking forward to Derek arriving," said player-coach Ben Simon.