Force Spoil Steel Comeback With Overtime Win
January 9, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release
FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA - Fargo left wing Denis Smirnov sent a backhanded shot past Chicago netminder John Lethemon 1:01 into overtime as the Force defeated the Steel 5-4 Saturday at Scheels Arena. After the Force (13-15-2-0, 28 points) surrendered a 3-0 lead to four unanswered Chicago Steel (13-16-3-2, 31 points) goals, Fargo tied the game with one minute remaining in regulation, forcing overtime and winning the game during the 4-on-4 portion of overtime.
The first period got off to a slow start, with over six minutes played before Chicago defenseman Adam Parsells recorded the first shot on goal for either team. Later in the period, Fargo registered their first goal of the weekend against Steel netminder John Lethemon, as Ruslan Rakhmatov's clearing attempt was intercepted by Force center Shane McMahan, who fed the puck to Zach Yon near the bottom of the left circle. Yon then quickly released a wrist shot that passed through the five hole of Lethemon to open the scoring at 14:26. Chicago outshot Fargo 6-5 in the opening period, trailing 1-0 after 20 minutes of play.
It seemed that Fargo had taken control of the game early in the second period. After two quick saves by Lethemon, Blake Lizotte jammed a second rebound inside the right post at 1:40. Just over three minutes later, Charlie Gerard raced down the left wing and buried a breakaway shot past the blocker of Lethemon for his first goal with the Force since being acquired from the Madison Capitols. But trailing 3-0, the game turned for Chicago when a right point shot from Karlis Cukste bounced off two Force defenders and past goaltender Robbie Beydoun at 7:42. The Lativan defenseman Cukste then scored a shorthanded goal, cashing in a give-and-go play with Tanner Laczynski at 17:39, cutting Fargo's lead to 3-2 after two periods.
The Steel kept the momentum rolling in the third period. Christiano Versich's drive to the net and both he and the buck slid into the Fargo net, tying the game 3-3 with 15:50 remaining. Later in the period, while on the penalty kill, Steel forward Karch Bachman blocked a Fargo shot in the slot. Laczynski gathered the puck and dished it to Bachman at the defensive blue line. Bachman raced down the left wing, switched to the backhand and tallied Chicago's second shorthanded goal of the game, giving the Steel their fourth unanswered goal and a 4-3 lead at 13:34. However, with exactly one minute remaining in regulation and with Beydoun on the bench in favor on an extra attacker, Force winger Hank Crone passed to Grant Meyer at the back door, sending a shot past the blocker side of a diving Lethemon to tie the game, 4-4, forcing overtime.
Just 61 seconds into the extra frame, Blake Lizotte fed Denis Smirnov for a breakaway rush. Smirnov switched to the backhand at the top of the crease and sent a shot over the glove of Lethemon for the game-winning goal. It was the first time in six games this season that Fargo has scored an overtime goal. Chicago has yet to record an overtime goal in its six extra-session games this season.
Chicago concludes its season-long, 10-game road trip next weekend with visits to Madison Friday and Cedar Rapids on Saturday before returning to Fox Valley Ice Arena for a home game Sunday, Jan. 17 at 3 p.m. against Muskegon. This game will feature the unveiling of the team's new scoreboard during Mommy, Minions and Me Day. Plus, it's a Steel Family Pack game - fans can receive four tickets, four hot dogs, four sodas and four chuck-a-pucks starting at just $59. Tickets are available at the box office inside Fox Valley Ice Arena, by phone at 855-51-STEEL or online at ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.
United States Hockey League Stories from January 9, 2016
- Force Spoil Steel Comeback With Overtime Win - Chicago Steel
- Makitalo's OT Tally Ends Thriller in Saints Win - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Buccaneers walk away with victory - Des Moines Buccaneers
- Gamblers Pick up a Point in Dubuque - Green Bay Gamblers
- Stampede Can't Stop Buccaneers in Des Moines - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Furious Storm Comeback Forces OT, Hawks Win, 4-3 - Tri-City Storm
- Lancers Rally, Defeat Lincoln 3-2 in Overtime - Omaha Lancers
- Caps' Early Burst Foiled by DeAugustine & Phantoms - Madison Capitols
- Lancers Take Overtime Win, 3-2 - Lincoln Stars
- Lambdin, Baker Take Home Hat Tricks - Bloomington Thunder
- Lumberjacks Split Weekend Series with Bloomington - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Caps Honor Suter & Host Phantoms on be the Miracle Night - Madison Capitols
- Stars Look to Respond against Lancers - Lincoln Stars
- Meike Traded to Waterloo - Sioux City Musketeers
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