Chicago Drops Barnburner in Youngstown, 6-5
December 14, 2018 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release
YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO - The Chicago Steel couldn't keep the quick-strike offense of the Youngstown Phantoms at bay as Youngstown won a 6-5 contest Friday night at Covelli Centre. The Phantoms (10-9-0-3, 23 pts.) scored three goals in a 3:04 span late in the third period to overcome the second two-goal Steel (13-9-1-0, 27 pts.) lead of the game.
Chicago struck first when right wing Mathieu De St. Phalle scored his fourth goal of the season. The Wisconsin commit finished off a feed from left wing Gunnarwolfe Fontaine with a forehand-backhand move on Youngstown goaltender Christian Stoever. With the assist, Fontaine extended his point streak to six games (4-4-8).
The Phantoms clawed back and tied the game with their first powerplay goal of the night. Forward Connor MacEachern finished off a broken play that started with a blocked shot in the slot that trickled to forward Brett Murray who fed MacEachern for the goal. MacEachern, three games (2-2-4), and Murray, four games (5-2-7) both extended their point streaks on the play.
The second period opened with a combined four goals in the first 4:45 of the period. De St. Phalle collected his second of the game just 22 seconds in by being the last to touch the puck before MacEachern attempted to circle behind his own net but lost control of the puck as it slid past Stoever. Fontaine and defenseman Matteo Pietroniro collected assists on the play, Pietroniro's third in the last two games.
Chicago made it a 3-1 game 2:40 later when Pietroniro tallied a goal of his own. The Steel captain found the puck before working his way around a pair of Phantoms before his wrist shot from the slot found its way through the five-hole of Stoever.
The Phantoms quickly responded, scoring a pair of goals 35 seconds apart to tie the game. Defenseman Gianfranco Cassaro scored the second Youngstown powerplay goal of the night as his wrist shot beat Steel goaltender Justin Robbins to the glove side. Moments later, Phantoms forward Ben Schoen collected a puck at the far faceoff dot, maneuvered around three Steel players and fired a shot past the blocker of Robbins.
The game remained tied until Chicago defenseman John Spetz put the Steel back on top, finishing off a five-on-three powerplay goal he helped set up. The defenseman took a nine-second journey through the zone and around the net looking for a pass before handing off to left wing Travis Treloar who gave it right back for a snipe from Spetz that found room over the blocker. The powerplay goal was Chicago's first in its last four games.
The Steel extended their lead to two once again when center Adam Robbins finished off a no-look feed from right wing Neil Shea on the powerplay. Shea, who was in front of Stoever, fed a no-look pass through a Phantoms skater and right to the stick of Robbins who tapped it past the sprawling goaltender.
But Youngstown responded, scoring a trio of goals in just more than three minutes to turn the two-goal deficit to a 6-5 lead. Murray's pair of goals sandwiched a game-tying goal from forward Craig Needham, and Chicago couldn't find the equalizer in the waning moments as the Phantoms captured the opener of the weekend set.
Chicago continues the three-game series in Youngstown Saturday night with a 6:05 p.m. CT faceoff. The weekend series ends with a Sunday matinee scheduled for a 4:00 p.m. CT faceoff. The team is back in front of the home crowd on Saturday, December 29 when they take on Team USA U-17 in a 7:05 p.m. faceoff. The first 500 fans at the game will receive a Jurassic Rusty Bobblehead Doll and fans are encouraged to stick around after the game to Skate with the Steel.
Tickets for all Steel home games are on sale now starting at just $10 and stadium seating on the glass is available for just $20. Parking is always free. The Steel offer discounted tickets for groups and are offering a special Holiday Pack, which includes three games and four gifts for just $40.
For more information, call 855-51-STEEL or visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.
United States Hockey League Stories from December 14, 2018
- Stampede Roll Past Green Bay for Third Straight Win - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Dubuque Erases Three Goal Deficit, Falls in Shootout - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Hawks Win with Two Pairs - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Phantoms Steel a Win from Chicago - Youngstown Phantoms
- Chicago Drops Barnburner in Youngstown, 6-5 - Chicago Steel
- Preview - Stars vs Black Hawks - Lincoln Stars
- RoughRiders Swap Forwards with Omaha - Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
- Lancers Add Forward Harrison Roy - Omaha Lancers
- Sioux Falls Completes Comeback, Wins 5-4 in Overtime - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Storm Defeat Rival Stars 5-3 - Tri-City Storm
- Stampede Rally to Top Dubuque in Overtime at PREMIER Center - Sioux Falls Stampede
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