Steel Hold Off Capitols 8-5
November 21, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release
GENEVA, ILLINOIS - The Chicago Steel (6-9-2-1, 15 points) exploded for eight goals in their best offensive performance of the year to earn an 8-5 victory over the Madison Capitols (7-9-0-0, 14 points). The Steel held off a frantic Capitols comeback for their third win in five games. Tanner Laczynski tallied three points for Chicago, while Karch Bachman had two goals in the win.
Both teams took turns capitalizing on chances during the first period. The Capitols' Sam McCormick tallied the first goal of the night. After a favorable bounce off the boards, McCormick jammed the puck glove-side to make it 1-0 at 5:46. Steel captain Marcel Godbout tied the game on the power play midway through the frame. Godbout dove into the crease to knock Max Zimmer's rebound into the back of the net. The Capitols quickly took the lead back at 11:43 when Guillaume Leclerc slapped a one-time shot over the right shoulder of Lethemon to make it 2-1. The Steel once again evened the score as Brandon Duhaime's wrist shot from the left faceoff circle beat the Capitols' netminder stick-side for a power play goal late in the period.
The Steel were all over the Capitols in the second period scoring three times in the frame. Karch Bachman gave Chicago their first lead of the game as Mitch Lewandowski's feed through the middle of the ice put Bachman in alone on net. He made no mistake as he put the puck past Ryan Edquist 1:13 into second period. Garrett Metcalf replaced Edquist after the Madison starter had allowed three goals on 11 shots. The Steel got to Metcalf late in the period, as Karlis Cukste tallied his first goal of the season, a power play goal on a wrist shot from the blue line with less than two minutes remaining in the period. Mitch Lewandowski followed up with a goal just 28 seconds later to extend the lead to 5-2 heading to the third.
Chicago started the third period the same way they finished the second. Laczynski banked a puck off the right shoulder of Metcalf from an odd angle 31 seconds into the frame to seemingly put the game away. However, Madison answered with three goals within a span of just over five minutes as Alexandre Payusov, Charlie Gerard and Phil Beaulieu scored to cut a four-goal lead to one.
With Madison searching for the equalizer, the Steel stepped up defensively, and when Madison pulled its goalie with just under two minutes remaining, Chicago's Adam Parsells found the empty cage to make it 7-5. Bachman added his second goal of the night 26 seconds later, racing to a loose puck and swerving around Metcalf who was caught out of net on his way to the bench for an extra attacker.
Chicago was a perfect 3-for-3 on the power play. The Steel have earned at least one point in six of their last seven games, and Steel goalie John Lethemon recorded a career-high 39 saves in notching his fifth win of the season. Jake Jaremko had three assists in the game for Chicago.
Chicago finishes their six-game homestand this week with two games surrounding Thanksgiving. The Bloomington Thunder are in town Wednesday, November 25 for a 7 p.m. start. There will be a Canned Food Drive to benefit the Food Bank of Greater Elgin. Fans can save $2 on admission by bringing a canned food item when purchasing their tickets. Plus, it's College Night with a special $12 tickets for students that includes a $5 beverage voucher. The Dubuque Fighting Saints enter Fox Valley Ice Arena on Friday, November 27 for a 7:30 p.m. puck drop. Friday is Movember Night as the Steel raise awareness for men's health issues and funds for LivingWell Cancer Resource Center. It's also a Steel Family Pack game - fans can receive four tickets, four hot dogs, four sodas and four chuck-a-pucks starting at just $59. For more details or to purchase tickets, call 855-51-STEEL, visit the box office inside Fox Valley Ice Arena or visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.
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