Chicago Falls 5-2 To Cedar Rapids As Win Streak Ends
January 25, 2020 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA - The Steel (27-5-1-0, 55 pts) fell for the first time since November 29, 2019 as the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (13-17-3-1, 30 pts) took down first-place Chicago by a 5-2 margin on Saturday night at Cedar Rapids Ice Arena.
The loss snapped Chicago's franchise-record 13-game winning streak and marked only the second road loss for the team this season.
Chicago outshot Cedar Rapids 30-27, but RoughRider goaltender Aidan Harper, a Libertyville, Ill. native, turned away 28 shots in the victory.
The Steel opened the scoring in the first period of the contest. Matty De St. Phalle won a faceoff back to Brendan Brisson who dished the puck to Luke Reid, coming down the right side of the offensive zone. Reid found De St. Phalle in front of the net who deflected the pass past Harper to put the Steel ahead 1-0.
Alex Gagne helped the home team answer just two minutes later when he beat Chicago goaltender Victor Ostman on an odd-man rush. Michael Posma was the trigger man as a 3-on-1 developed, finding Gagne for his second goal of the season.
Tyler Rollwagen took advantage of a Chicago turnover to take the lead for Cedar Rapids, a lead the home team would not relinquish. Pressure on the forecheck allowed Rollwagen to pick up a loose puck and follow up his own shot, scoring on the rebound.
Chicago had an opportunity to even the score as the club earned a power play just four minutes into the second period. Cedar Rapids was able to fight off several Steel chances to keep the score at 2-1 and hold off the momentum from returning to Chicago's side.
The pace of the contest picked up after the RoughRider penalty kill as the teams traded end-to- end chances until halfway through the second. A furious Cedar Rapids forecheck sequence resulted in the first power play of the night for the home club as Uula Ruikka was sent to the box for slashing.
Chicago managed to cancel the power-play chance and looked to recapture the momentum after the team returned to full strength but Harper fought off a barrage of Steel shots to keep the RoughRider lead intact.
The middle frame appeared to be closing without a goal before a Chicago turnover in the defensive zone during the final minute of play. The turnover resulted in a Grant Silianoff power- play one-timer that reached the back of the Steel net with just three seconds remaining.
Chicago entered the final frame with two goals to make up but the RoughRiders kept the pressure on, pushing the lead to 4-1 halfway through the third.
Max Sasson and Zach Faremouth led a 2-on-1 charge with Sasson popping the back of the net for his seventh goal of the season.
With time ticking down in regulation, the Steel mounted one last chance at a comeback as Mackie Samoskevich caught a feed on the right side of the crease from Sam Colangelo to light the lamp and cut the deficit to 4-2 with just under two minutes remaining.
Cedar Rapids put the dagger home with a goal from Darian Gotz just 18 seconds later, sealing the 5- 2 final score and snapping both Chicago's 13-game win streak and the RoughRiders' five- game losing skid. Victor Ostman made 22 saves in the loss, dropping his record to 17-4-0-0 between the Steel pipes this season.
The teams travel east to close out the home-and-home weekend set on Sunday afternoon at Fox Valley Ice Arena, the last of four meetings between the clubs this season. Sunday is Rusty's Birthday with an intermission mascot hockey game. Following the 3:05 pm puck drop, the Steel are holding a full-team postgame autograph session.
Chicago Steel games may be heard on Mixlr at http://mixlr.com/chicago-steel/ (AUDIO) and video may be streamed on available devices through HockeyTV at www.hockeytv.com (VIDEO).
Chicago Steel Upcoming Games:
Sun., Jan. 26 vs. Cedar Rapids RoughRiders 3:05 pm
(Rusty's birthday with intermission mascot hockey game, Topgolf Family Pack, full-team postgame autographs)
Fri., Jan. 31 vs. Madison Capitols 7:05 pm (A Night for Geneva Students presented by FONA International, Jersey Auction to benefit the Geneva Academic Foundation)
Sat., Feb. 1 vs. Des Moines Buccaneers 7:05 pm (Star Wars Night)
For more information and to purchase Steel tickets, call 855-51-STEEL or visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.
United States Hockey League Stories from January 25, 2020
- Treloar's Two Goals Lead Stars Past Dubuque 4-2 - Lincoln Stars
- Storm Defeat Force 3-2 - Tri-City Storm
- Lancers Down Musketeers, 6-1 - Omaha Lancers
- Muskegon Drops Second Road Game of Weekend to Des Moines - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Hawks Strike for Six Again - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Chicago Falls 5-2 To Cedar Rapids As Win Streak Ends - Chicago Steel
- Herd Caps off Weekend with Sweep of Madison - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Dubuque Falters in 4-2 Loss against Lincoln - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Phantoms Fall to Green Bay 4-2 - Youngstown Phantoms
- Fighting Saints Top Lancers in Shootout - Omaha Lancers
- Preview: Storm Host Force at Viaero Center - Tri-City Storm
- Lumberjacks' Winning Streak Snapped in a Tough 6-5 Loss in Waterloo - Muskegon Lumberjacks
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