Steelers 4-3 Devils: Visitors lose ground on title race as winning run ends

Cardiff Devils lost ground in the Elite League title race after their five-game winning run was halted at Sheffield Steelers.

Cardiff remain fourth but are now six points behind third-placed Nottingham Panthers after a second defeat of the campaign at Sheffield.

The Steelers remain second after shaking off their recent indifferent form.

They had won just three of their last seven games – including a 6-2 loss in south Wales – but they edged a tight first period dominated by both defences.

Colton Saucerman netted the only goal of that first period before Mikko Juusola scored just 27 seconds into the second.

Zach O’Brien’s response for Devils was swiftly cancelled out Steelers’ Patrick Watling before Joey Martin scored during a powerplay just before the break.

That set up a tense final period that remained goalless until Kevin Tansey netted for Steelers three minutes from time before Cole Sanford’s late score.