This is probably going to make no sense and contradict itself all over the place but...
A crap result to end a crap day, and yet it was an entertaining game that I sort of enjoyed. At least until the final 5 minutes.
Devils were by far the better side going forward and pinned the Steelers into their own zone for very long spells. And yet they didn't get enough quality shots away and I can't remember Verner actually making a good save all game.
Steelers on the other hand were awful for most of the game, and yet it was Lyle who was having to make all the big saves.
The Devils defence was shocking tonight. Jarvis had his worst ever game for us - I can only assume he has flu or something. Symonds had a nightmare whilst Hartwick, Richardson and Romfo were all inconsistent.
First period was all Devils, but without creating any good shooting chances. Then we get a powerplay and we are awful and Lyle has to make 2 good saves. Once we are back to 5-on-5 and we are all over the Steelers again. We end the period on the powerplay and once again we are thanking Lyle for keeping it 0-0.
Second period and the Devils finally find the back of the net. Romfo finding Birbraer with a pass out of the zone, and he skated in on net before beating Verner low down.
Devils 1-0 Steelers.
Shortly after, Symonds took a daft holding penalty, and after a bit of a scramble infront of the net Sgroi finally knocked it in.
Devils 1-1 Steelers
Devils retook the lead 2 minutes later, a lovely inter-passing move saw Birbraer and Davies confuse the Steelers, allowing Max to drop a pass out to Smith who fired it into the net before Verner even knew where the puck was.
Devils 2-1 Steelers
And yet once again the Devils fell asleep. The puck was lost behind the Devils net, Dowd setup Sgroi infront of the net only for Lyle to make the save. The rebound fell to Hubbauer whose shot was again pad saved by Lyle, but this time he scored with the rebound.
Devils 2-2 Steelers
Every time the Devils took the lead, the Steelers would suddenly up their game and get an equaliser, but as soon as they did they would go rubbish again.
5 minutes later and after Miller fed Finnerty he fired another unstoppable shot past Verner into the far corner.
Devils 3-2 Steelers
But once again the lead lasted barely two minutes, and once again the Devils defence cleared neither the puck nor body, allowing Hubbauer several chances before finally scoring on another rebound.
Devils 3-3 Steelers
Into the third period, and after Michel went on a skate from his own zone his shot was dropped by Verner and it trickled over the line.
Devils 4-3 Steelers
For once the Devils remembered to defend and held onto their lead for 10 minutes. With just 5 minutes remaining the Steelers got a powerplay chance, and yet again the Devils failed to deal with rebound after rebound, Legue eventually firing through a crowd of players (though there was a hint of a Steelers player in the crease behind Lyle).
Devils 4-4 Steelers
Ah well. Overtime here we come.. unless the Devils can score another. Except those damn Steelers played a nasty trick on us by actually TRYING TO SCORE straight after the goal - instead of defending and being rubbish.
And it worked. Puck is passed from behind Lyle's net to Talbot who roofs it into the net from close range. 12 seconds after the equaliser and about 2 minutes after the lads in block 2 chanted "Talbot is rubbish".
Devils 4-5 Steelers
Devils looked for the equaliser but only succeeded in giving away 2 stupid penalties. 50 seconds to go - Steelers have a 5-on-3 powerplay. Incredibly, Michel wins the puck, skates past all of the Steelers player and nearly beats Verner through his five-hole.
He just manages to stop it though, Sheffield regain the puck and kill off the remaining seconds without any further incident.
As I said at the start, really wierd game. For 2 periods Mark Smith was back to his brilliant best, and Sheffield just couldn't get near him and Birbraer. Both players faded in the third, but our dominance really should have seen the game all over by the end of the second period.
However, when your defence doesn't take the body and forgets to clear the puck - you aren't going to win games. And we didn't.
