Bizarre ‘Own Goal’ Helps Devils To Fifth Straight Win Against Steelers

Cardiff Devils 3, Sheffield Steelers 2

Cardiff Devils earned a fifth successive Elite League win against bitter rivals Steelers, helped by enormous fortune for their first goal.

Devils were on a delayed penalty when Sheffield’s Ben O’Connor was on the puck behind his net and had time to get the puck away.

But his pass hit the skate of team-mate David Phillips and slid past netminder Ervins Mustukovs into goal.

It was a bizarre goal which made the score 1-1 and left Steelers desperately frustrated.

I have seen ‘own goals’ before – I remember a puck flying in off Shannon Hope’s skate in a play-off clash with Ayr years ago – but never in such dramatic fashion.

Devils had absolutely nothing to do with the goal, but it was awarded to Patrick Asselin and the home team went on to win thanks to goals from Joey Martin and defenceman Josh Batch.

“These games are fun, so fast and played at such a high level,” said Devils player-coach Andrew Lord. “Intense rivalry and another exciting evening.”

Goalie Ben Bowns was man of the match and Lord said: “Batchy was a little disappointed after scoring the winning goal, but Bownsy did exceptionally well.

“The technical side of his game has come on leaps and bounds, but the biggest thing is that he is a competitor and you don’t always find that in goaltenders.”

Sheffield coach Paul Thompson reacted when then game ended, pointing towards the ice, where referee Mike Hicks stood, and yelling before storming off the bench and kicking the away dressing room door open.

“It’s frustrating,” said Thompson, who was composed by the time he was ready for a post-match interview.

“The facts are that we were one goal ahead last Sunday when we had a legitimate goal wiped out because they didn’t think it had crossed the line. We have now seen proof on that.

“This time we lose 3-2 and Cardiff only score two of the goals that beat us. It is incredibly frustrating. Two great teams going at it and we don’t feel we  have had the rub in certain area.

“In 25 years of coaching I have never seen anything like that goal that went in off our skate (David Phillips).

“On the Fitzgerald hit I was five feet away. Was it a penalty? Yes. His gloves came up. Was it five minutes plus game? No. Not even close. Nelson was cross-checked in the teeth a few weeks ago in Cardiff and no penalty was even called. Fitz’s hit was a minor, at most two plus 10.

“You have to respect the decisions of Mike Hicks, but this is the opinion of a coach who is not at his first rodeo.”

This was a second Devils win against Steelers in six days.

Steelers opened the scoring two minutes into the middle period when Levi Nelson snuck the puck past Bowns after John Armstrong fed him a perfect pass.

That bizarre ‘own goal’ hailed Devils level on 29-25, but momentum swung in favour of the Devils after a five minute major penalty was called against the Steelers Zack Fitzgerald at 45-58. Fitzgerald was called for checking Lord to the head and was thrown out of the game.

Steelers killed the first three minutes, but at 50-08 Martin finished off a pass from Jake Morissette to give the Devils a 2-1 lead.

Jace Coyle made it 2-2 on 52-40, but Cardiff regained their lead 24 seconds later. Batch was left all alone streaking into the Steelers zone and he blasted the puck past Mustukovs after Sean Bentivoglio laid a perfect pass for him at 53-04.

Devils go to Nottingham Panthers join Sunday, while they are at home against Dundee Stars in the Challenge Cup next Wednesday (7.30pm).

Match stats v Steelers:

Scorers, Devils: Patrick Asselin 1+1, Joey Martin 1+1, Josh Batch 1+0, Jake Morissette 0+1, Andrew Lord 0+1.

Steelers: Levin Nelson 1+0, Jace Coyle 1+0, John Armstrong 0+1, Jesse Schultz 0+1, Guillaume Desbiens 0+1, Colton Fretter 0+1.

Period scores (Devils first) 0-0; 1-1 (1-1); 2-1 (3-2).

Shots on goal: Devils 8+9+9=27; Steelers 12+9+10=31.

Powerplays: Devils 1/4; Steelers 0/4.

Stars of the game: Devils, Ben Bowns; Steelers, Jayce Coyle.