Elis Hede Tallies Game Winner In 5-4 Overtime Victory
February 26, 2020 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release
YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO - The Chicago Steel (37-7-1-0, 75 pts) extended their win streak to nine games with a 5-4 victory in overtime against the Youngstown Phantoms (19-20-5-2, 45 pts) at Covelli Centre on Wednesday morning.
Steel defenseman Owen Power tallied both of his goals on the power play and added an assist to register a career-best, three-point outing and the Steel held Youngstown to just 21 shots through regulation and overtime. Elis Hede scored the game-winning goal for Chicago three minutes into the extra session as the club moved within one victory of matching a team record 38 victories from the 2016-17 campaign.
Youngstown erased a two-goal deficit in the second period and tied the game with 35 seconds left but the Phantoms were unable to take the lead at any point in the game.
The second Youngstown shift of the morning produced an immediate chance for the home team less than a minute into the contest. Georgi Merkulov got a shot off after a spin move that was turned away by Chicago netminder Ian Shane, one of Shane's seven saves through the opening frame.
Just three minutes later, Defenseman Owen Power took a pass from fellow blueliner Colton Huard and drifted to the left point, drawing the Youngstown defense with him. Power found Dawson Pasternak through a seam on the doorstep of the backdoor to the right of Phantom netminder Colin Purcell.
A beautiful passing play by Brendan Brisson and Sam Colangelo found Erik Middendorf for his 12th goal of the season. Brisson dished the puck to Colangelo on top of the right circle where Colangelo circled and fed it across to Middendorf who beat Purcell on the stick side to gain a 2- 0 advantage. It was the first of a career-high four assists in the game for Brisson.
Ben Schoen capitalized on a Youngstown 2-on-1 rush when he snapped home a wrister from the left circle to draw the Phantoms within one, the first of three Phantom markers in the middle frame scored on just three shots on goal.
Power lit the lamp on a power play with a blast just a step inside the blue line for his second point of the night to put the Steel ahead 3-1.
Matthew Cassidy took advantage of another Youngstown 2-on-1, this time scoring from the right circle with his first tally of the morning to cut the deficit to one. Just 34 seconds before the second period buzzer, Aiden Gallacher tied up the contest with a screened shot from the left circle that snuck past Shane.
Power notched his second power-play goal of the morning less than a minute into the third period. With the man advantage, Sam Colangelo set up Power who blasted home a one-timer from the right circle to put the Steel ahead 4-3.
The Steel held onto the lead until the final minute of regulation when the home team was able to tie the game once again.
With just over one minute remaining in regulation, Youngstown pulled Purcell while on a power play to gain a 6-on-4 advantage. Matthew Cassidy then tipped home the game-tying goal with just 35 seconds to play in regulation to force overtime.
Shane turned aside a 2-on-1 rush off the opening faceoff in OT to keep the game alive. Neither team could reach the net until Brisson and Hede strode down the ice on a 2-on-1 chance. Brisson gained the line and drifted to the left circle then floated the puck to Hede who connected on a one-timer from the right hash marks, his second goal in the last three games.
With the victory, the Steel improved to 21-2-0-0 in games away from home this season.
Chicago can clinch a Clark Cup Playoffs berth with a win on Friday night on the road against the Madison Capitols.
After the Friday night battle in Madison against the Capitols on Feb. 28, the team makes its return to Fox Valley Ice Arena on Sat., Feb. 29 for the team's Teddy Bear Toss presented by Geneva Family Dental. Fans are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped stuffed animal to toss onto the ice after the team's first goal to be donated to charity.
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: Fri., Feb. 28 at Madison Capitols 7:05 pm Sat., Feb. 29 vs. Madison Capitols 7:05 pm (Teddy Bear Toss presented by Geneva Family Dental) Fri., March 6 at Dubuque Fighting Saints 7:05 pm
For more information and to purchase Steel tickets, call 855-51-STEEL or visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.
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