Steel Power Play Strong in Victory over Team USA
November 19, 2017 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release
PLYMOUTH, MICHIGAN - The Chicago Steel (9-2-0-1, 19 pts.) went 3-for-5 on the power play Friday en route to a 6-2 victory over Team USA (U17) (7-2-0-0, 14 pts.) at USA Hockey Arena.
Forward Robert Mastrosimone put up three points (1+2) in the victory, while Samuel Bucek (1+1), Jordan Seyfert (1+1) and Graham Lillibridge (0+2) also recorded multi-point outings. Chicago netminder Oskar Autio stopped 24 of 26 shots.
The Steel jumped on the scoreboard first as Samuel Bucek netted his fifth goal of the season. Off a pass from Lillibridge that sprung the Slovakian forward on a breakaway, Bucek put a backhanded shot top shelf on USA netminder Spencer Knight at the 6:35 mark.
Forward Tyler Gratton extended the Chicago lead to 2-0 with a power play goal at 11:28. The Penn State commit high shot from the slot went bar down for his third goal of the year.
Team USA cut the Steel lead in half at 9:32 of the second period as forward Trevor Zegras put the puck past Autio's glove from the low slot. Less than two minutes later, Aaro Vidgren was able to restore Chicago's two-goal lead with a power play goal at 11:11. The Finnish forward put the puck home with a one-timer from the bottom of the right circle, cashing in on a Mastrosimone pass from behind the net for his sixth marker on the campaign.
The Steel power play continued to light the lamp as forward Blake McLaughlin tallied his fifth goal of the season with a rising shot from the bottom of the right circle. McLaughlin took a pass from Lillibridge and waited for traffic to clear before picking the high glove side on Team USA netminder Cameron Rowe to give Chicago a 4-1 lead 32 seconds into the third period.
Team USA answered back with a power play tally of its own at 10:37. Forward Alex Turcotte deflected the puck past Autio to cut the Steel lead in half. Seyfert added to the lead at 13:35, receiving a pass at the top of the crease from Mastrosimone before spinning and firing a low shot past Rowe's glove to make it 5-2.
Mastrosimone sealed the victory for the Steel, tallying an empty net goal with 1:45 remaining in regulation. The marker was the Boston University commit's fourth of the season.
Chicago outshot Team USA by a 30-26 margin. The Steel killed off five of the NTDP's six man advantages. Autio improved his record to 9-1-0-0 this season. Lillibridge now has 14 points this season, leading all USHL defensemen.
The Steel conclude their road trip Saturday with a visit to the Youngstown Phantoms at 6:05 p.m. CT. Steel games are carried live on Mixlr (free audio) and Hockey TV (iPPV). For more information, visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com/broadcast.
Chicago's next home game is Friday, Nov. 24 at 7:05 p.m. against the Lincoln Stars. It's Superhero Night and a Meijer Kids Day; children 12 and under can receive an Attack Preferred ticket, popcorn, Steel light-up wand and post-game autographs, all for just $10. For more information on the Chicago Steel, or to purchase tickets, call 855-51-STEEL, stop by the Box Office at Fox Valley Ice Arena or visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.
Rob Sanderson
Broadcaster and Media Relations Coordinator
Chicago Steel
2016-2017 Clark Cup Champions
D 630-517-2962
Tix 855-51-STEEL
rsanderson@chicagosteelhockeyteam.com
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United States Hockey League Stories from November 19, 2017
- Steel Power Play Strong in Victory over Team USA - Chicago Steel
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