Cardiff Devils remain without a win on the road in the Challenge Cup having been beaten 3-1 at Sheffield Steelers, who maintained their 100% record in Group A.

Having beaten Nottingham Panthers 5-3 in Cardiff 24 hours earlier, Devils took the lead at the Utilita Arena with a Ryan Barrow breakaway midway through the first period.

Sheffield levelled 27 seconds before the first break. Dominic Cormier’s shot ballooned over Ben Bowns into the net after deflecting off the stick of Brandon Whistle, the goal only awarded following a video review to check for a high stick.

Mitchell Balmas put Steelers ahead with a shorthanded goal in the second period, before Macoy Erkamps sealed the win with an empty-net goal 11 seconds from time as Devils pulled netminder Bowns to chase an equaliser.

Sheffield top the table with eight points from two regulation and two overtime victories. Cardiff are second on six points with three wins and three losses.

Despite another away defeat, Devils head coach Paul Thompson was much happier than after the previous weekend’s 5-1 thrashing at Guildford Flames.

“Well I was a little critical about our performance last week in Guildford,” said Thompson.

“We didn’t show up and we just weren’t the team I know we are and it’s the absolute opposite today.

“Of course we’re disappointed we haven’t come away with any points but I thought the effort we gave tonight, the commitment we gave and the pushback… I have nothing but admiration for the way the guys stuck to their jobs and tried to get back into the game and maybe if we got a bounce, Sheffield got one today, maybe if we got a bounce it would have been a different result.”

Cardiff now prepare to start their Elite League campaign with a run of five consecutive home matches, starting against Manchester Storm at the Vindico Arena on Saturday, 3 October (19:00 BST).