Video: Challenge Cup still proves elusive for Steelers

Last night, the Steelers could not make what was effectively home ice advantage pay as they went down in the final 2-1 to Cardiff in front of a packed Motorpoint Arena.

But while one door closes – as it has done in this competition for the Steelers since the Elite League era began in 2003 – another and, arguably more important one remains open as the Steelers hang on to control their own destiny in pursuit of a first Elite League title since 2011. The Erhardt Conference and the play-offs are also still on the agenda.

The task of clinching a fourth league title will be far from straightforward though. In the five games that Steelers have remaining, three see them go toe-to-toe once again with Cardiff, who sit one place and two points behind them, with a game in hand.

If either team are to stand any chance of stopping current leaders Braehead Clan from taking the honours, one of them is probably going to need to win all three of those encounters.

The first of those meetings will be on Wednesday night at the same venue and it remains to be seen how much of a hangover – if any – there will be for Steelers from last night’s defeat.

Their head coach Gerad Adams admitted to feeling more frustrated than disappointed with defeat against his former club, but expects his team to bounce back.

“Cardiff played well, you have to give them credit,” said Adams.

“But I don’t think we were necessarily at our best either and losing Tomas Petruska was the key part of that game for us.

“I don’t think we really gave them too much, they got their two goals and we had some chances that we weren’t able to capitalise on and then, in the third period, we weren’t able to get that second goal.

“This is going to burn for a couple of days but we’ve got no time to feel sorry for ourselves.”

Cardiff were deserved winners. A cagey and goalless first period – during which the aforementioned Petruska was helped off with what looked like a knee injury – was soon forgotten when the Devils took the lead less than two minutes into the middle section, player-coach Andrew Lord firing past Josh Unice on the powerplay with Jeff Legue stuck in the penalty box on a slashing call from the previous period.

Just under two minutes later at 22.55 it got worse for Steelers when Chris Culligan tipped-in from Trevor Hendrikx’s rocket shot from the right, silencing the larger, orange section of the 7,100 crowd.

Ben Bowns, well protected in the Cardiff goal, was called into action as Steelers pushed for a way back into the game, saving well low down from the lively Tyler Mosienko but, at the other end, Steelers were lucky to avoid going in at the end of the second 3-0 down when Mark Thomas lost the puck behind the net, although Joey Haddad, somehow fired wide of Unice’s goal from in front.

Chances came and went at both ends in the third as Steelers showed more life and chased the game, and they gave themselves hope when Cullen Eddy’s shot from the blue line found its way past an unsighted Bowns at 52.38.

It was Eddy who had a chance to level in the last two minutes, but he missed the target when well-positioned and, despite a late surge, Devils prevailed.

On Saturday, Steelers ensured their title bid did did remain in their own hands – just – when a last-gasp win at home to Belfast Giants took them to within a point of leaders Braehead, who were thrashed 6-0 at Nottingham Panthers.

Steelers trailed after just four minutes when Mark Garside back-handed past Josh Unice, although a fine individual effort from Mathieu Roy brought them level at 13.39.

Within two minutes, Colton Fretter put the home side ahead when he fired past Stephen Murphy into the roof of the net.

The only goal of the second period came just after six minutes in when Mark McCutcheon levelled for the visitors, but an inspired Fretter got his second of the night 2.40 into the third to put his team ahead for a second time.

Again the defending champions roared back to tie things up, this time George Sawada firing past Unice with just over 10 minutes remaining.

However, there was to be a sting in the tail for the visitors - who look destined to finish fifth overall - when Steelers’ ensured they would take both points, avoiding the tension brought about by overtime and penalties when leading scorer Mike Forney grabbed a dramatic winner just 16 seconds from time.