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 Chicago Steel

Dugan's Hat Trick Powers Chicago to 5-4 Shootout Win

April 1, 2018 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release


CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA - Propelled by Jack Dugan's first career USHL hat trick, the Chicago Steel (25-24-2-5, 57 pts.) rallied for a 5-4 comeback win via shootout against the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (21-24-9-1, 52 pts.) Saturday night at Cedar Rapids Ice Arena. The Steel trailed 4-2 in the third period but received goals from Samuel Bucek and Dugan to force overtime. Bucek scored the lone goal of the eventual shootout, and goaltender Justin Robbins denied all three Cedar Rapids shooters.

After earning the extra point via shootout, Chicago extended its lead over Cedar Rapids to five points for the sixth-and-final playoff position in the Eastern Conference.

The RoughRiders opened the scoring just 3:12 into the game when Cedar Rapids center Nathan Smith tapped home a goal to beat a sprawling Robbins.

Chicago and Cedar Rapids then traded goals later in the period in a 48-second span. The Steel briefly tied things thanks to Dugan's first goal of the night 7:27 into the opening frame. The Vegas Golden Knights prospect was fed a pass from Baker Shore in the high slot and finished with a quick shot past the blocker of RoughRiders goaltender Blake Pietila. With the assist, Shore extended his point streak to seven games (3-7-10).

Cedar Rapids regained the lead at the 8:15 mark when Roman Ahcan found the back of the net with a heavy wrist shot over the glove of Robbins. Smith banked a pass to Ahcan off the glass to pick up the assist and his second point of the night.

Dugan answered for the Steel again, this time on the power play 6:01 into the second period. His wrist shot through traffic found room over the glove of Pietila. Chicago defenseman Graham Lillibridge - who started the play with a cross-rink pass to Shore - extended his point streak to three games (0-3-3) with the secondary assist.

The RoughRiders pulled ahead for a third time with 2:27 to play in the second period when Jordan Timmons got a goal of his own after an assist earlier in the night. Cedar Rapids defenseman Jake Johnson sent a wrist shot from the point wide of the net, but Timmons tipped the puck at the top of the crease past the glove of Robbins.

Smith added a second tally 6:18 into the third to give Cedar Rapids the game's first two-goal lead. Smith found himself alone near the top of the left faceoff circle and fired a one-time slap shot past Robbins.

Bucek answered with his 19th of the season to bring Chicago within one with 11:27 to play. Chicago center Nick Abruzzese collected a loose puck behind the net and found Bucek alone near the front of the crease where he rifled a wrist shot past the blocker of Pietila. Abruzzese's assist pushed his point streak to four games (2-4-6).

Dugan completed the hat trick to tie the game when he deked Pietila on a breakaway and slid the puck past his left pad with 8:05 to play in regulation. The hat trick was the third this season for the Steel. Shore and Blake McLaughlin both recorded three-goal performances Jan. 14 against Sioux City.

Neither team found the back of the net in the overtime period that saw both teams finish with three shots. In the first round of the shootout, Bucek came in with speed and beat Pietila low on the glove side with a wrist shot. Robbins stopped all three Cedar Rapids attempts to secure the victory for Chicago.

The Steel finished two-for-five on the power play while Cedar Rapids went one-for-four. The RoughRiders finished with a 35-27 shot advantage.

The Steel travel to Ohio next weekend for a Friday and Saturday set against the Youngstown Phantoms with both games set for a 6:05 p.m. CT puck drop. Steel games are carried live on Mixlr (free audio) and HockeyTV (iPPV). For more information, visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com/broadcast.

Chicago's lone remaining regular season home game is Fan Appreciation Night, April 13 against Central Illinois. Fan Appreciation Night will feature a team photo giveaway for the first 1,000 fans in attendance, as well as prizes given away all night long from the Steel and corporate partners including gift cards, unique fan experiences and more. For more information, or to purchase tickets, call 855-51-STEEL, stop by the Box Office at Fox Valley Ice Arena or visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.


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