Chicago Falls Friday
December 12, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release
CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA - A game-tying, 6-on-5 goal by Chicago Steel (10-11-2-2, 24 points) defenseman Grant Gabriele with 24.5 seconds remaining was overturned after video review due to a high stick, securing a 4-3 victory for the Eastern Conference-leading Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (15-6-1-0, 31 points) Friday at Cedar Rapids Ice Arena. The no goal call deflated a gritty Steel team that had battled back from a three-goal deficit before the RoughRiders notched the game-winner late in the third.
Cedar Rapids scored early, gaining a 1-0 lead just 1:41 into the contest when John DeRoche deflected Taylor Brierley's point shot past the stick of Steel goaltender John Lethemon. Later in the period, RoughRiders center Jacob Hayhurst received a feed in the low slot from DeRoche and lifted the puck over the right pad of Lethemon to give the RoughRiders a 2-0 lead after the first period.
The home team's momentum continued to grow in the second period. Luke Morgan received the puck at the left post and scored a power play goal to increase the RoughRiders' lead to 3-0 at 7:15. Chicago would then draw its first power play opportunity of the evening and captain Marcel Godbout cashed in for his second goal in as many nights, roofing a shot from the side of the crease at 9:02. Later in the period, Thursday's shootout hero, Johnny Walker, tallied his first USHL goal with a snipe through traffic past RoughRiders goaltender Ben Blacker, pulling Chicago within a goal, 3-2.
In the third period, Chicago center Jake Jaremko notched his USHL-leading ninth power play goal of the season, skating patiently from the right wing wall across the zone and sending a wrist shot past Blacker at 11:42. But the game didn't stay tied for long. The RoughRiders regained the lead exactly one minute later with a power play goal of their own. Matt Gosiewski stickhandled along the goal line and sent a low angle shot over the glove of Lethemon.
Following a timeout with 90 seconds remaining, Chicago pulled Lethemon in favor of an extra attacker. After a wild flurry of chances, Steel defenseman Grant Gabriele redirected a flying puck into the net in what appeared to be the game-tying goal with just 24.5 seconds remaining in regulation. However, following video review, the goal was overturned as it was ruled that Gabriele touched the puck with a high stick. Cedar Rapids held on to win the game, 4-3.
The defeat marked the ninth time this season that the Steel have lost by one goal.
Cedar Rapids has won seven games in a row. The two teams will meet next in Cedar Rapids on January 16, concluding a 10-game road trip that Chicago will begin following tomorrow night's home contest against Green Bay. The 7:00 p.m. matchup at Fox Valley Ice Arena features the popular Teddy Bear Toss, where fans are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped stuffed animal to the game and throw it on the ice after the first Steel goal. All stuffed animals will be donated to charity. For more details or to purchase tickets, call 855-51-STEEL, visit the box office inside Fox Valley Ice Arena or visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.
United States Hockey League Stories from December 12, 2015
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- Gamblers Blank Steel On Saturday - Chicago Steel
- Special Teams Deliver Fifth-Straight Win over Madison - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Lumberjacks Pick up One Point against Sioux Falls - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Stampede Rally Late and Sweep Lumberjacks with OT Win - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Musketeers Roll over Phantoms 9-4 - Sioux City Musketeers
- Buccaneers win 4-1 - Des Moines Buccaneers
- Lancers Cool Down Roughriders with 4-1 Victory - Omaha Lancers
- Gerard Scores Teddy Bear Toss Goal in Caps' Loss - Madison Capitols
- Buccaneers Handle Stars, 4-1 - Lincoln Stars
- Hawks Roll in Overtime - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Win Streak up to Five Games - Bloomington Thunder
- Another Point for Storm in 2-1 OT Loss to Thunder - Tri-City Storm
- Caps Host Teddy Bear Toss for Toys for Tots Tonight - Madison Capitols
- Stars Travel to Des Moines - Lincoln Stars
- Phantoms Fall in Shootout for Second Straight Night - Youngstown Phantoms
- Chicago Falls Friday - Chicago Steel
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