Sheffield Steelers 4-2 Cardiff Devils

Sheffield missing Stevie Duncombe, Cardiff missing Matt Foord, Dave Matsos and Ed Patterson.

Man of the match Mark Dutiaume sealed this win with a 51st minute penalty shot after he was hauled down when clean through, but Devils would have got a share of the points if they hadn't blown two spells of 5-on-3.

2724 saw Sheffield edge home, as Jody Lehman and his defence closed the door in the final session when Devils laid seige to the Steelers' net.

Dutiaume rifled home from 12 feet (0:48) in the opening minute and Cardiff didn't really get going until Dennis Maxwell's hooking penalty put them on the powerplay. Lehamn denied Louis Goulet twice before a huge save from Kirk DeWaele's bullet and Brad Voth's follow-up.

Cardiff weren't happy when Martin Masa lost his footing and fell on the puck with Lehman out of position. Soon after another rocket from DeWaele had Sheffield struggling to clear.

But Sheffield extended their lead when Kent Simpson potted the loose puck (13:45) after Maxwell got in front to unsight Peter Aubry.

A rash of penalties left Sheffield with 88 seconds of 5-on-3 as Regan Darby took 2 penalties to Masa's one late in the first. Aubry denied Dutiaume three times on the powerplay.

Nathan Rempel and Phil Hill tested Lehman early in the second before Mark Thomas forced a fine stop by Aubry. But Devils simply swept down the other end to score (24:48), Nathan Rempel's shot deflected in by Hill off the post.

DeWaele's holding penalty gave Sheffield the chance to work Aubry and as the penalty ended Aubry was penalised for slashing. On that powerplay Maxwell blasted home through the goalie's pads from distance (29:51).

Four minutes later Dutiaume and Rempel tussled for a puck in the Sheffield zone and with both on the floor, Rempel was adjudged a 5+game for elbows. Lehman took a 2 minute unneccessary roughness penalty when he made his feeling known.

Devils had the better of the 4-on-4 play before Dutiaume began to find his range on the powerplay. But after Devils returned to full strength Goulet fired home (39:14).

The final period was all Cardiff. Mark Thomas took a hooking minor and Warren Tait joined him for 64 seconds of 5-on-3, but Lehman only had one shot to save from Mike Garrow as his defence worked hard to deny shooting opportunities. With Tait's penalty about to end Lehman made point-blank saves saved from Mark Richardson and Phil Hill.

Four minutes later Dutiaume broke through and was hauled down for his penalty shot moment. Aubry hadn't had a save to make until then, but Dutiaume went left on the keeper to score from close range (50:57).

Within a minute, Dutiaume deflected wide on the doorstep but Cardiff were pressing as Dutiaume took a hooking penalty. Lehman made two stops from Garrow, the second ending in a pile-up in front of the net. Jason Robinson was penalised for interference as a result, giving 106 seconds of 5-on-3. Vezio Sacratini (twice) and Garrow were denied before Voth's interference penalty brough some relief for the home side.

Devils called a time out with 72 seconds remaining and succeeded in lifting Aubry with 40 seconds left, but Lehman didn't have another shot to save.