Cardiff Devils missed the chance to finish top of Challenge Cup Group A after Manchester Storm came from behind to win 4-3 in a shootout at the AO Arena. The result left Sheffield Steelers first and Cardiff second in the group.
Cardiff took a two-goal lead inside the opening six minutes through Jimmy Oligny, whose second goal deflected in off Thomas Caron. Stephen Johnson scored 32 seconds into the second period to bring Manchester back within one, but Caron tipped Brandon Estes’ shot past Drew DeRidder to restore Cardiff’s two-goal advantage.
Johnson scored again after intercepting Evan Mosey’s breakout pass, and Tim McGauley equalised with 2:32 remaining. Neither side scored in overtime. DeRidder stopped all four Cardiff attempts in the shootout, while Kyle Maksimovich and McGauley scored for Manchester to secure the victory.