Rakhmatov Nets Pair as Steel Bounce Bloomington 3-1 Wednesday
November 25, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release
GENEVA, ILLINOIS - Chicago Steel (7-9-2-1, 17 points) defenseman Ruslan Rakhmatov scored twice during the second period and added an assist in the third period as part of a 3-1 triumph over the Bloomington Thunder (8-8-2-1, 19 points) Wednesday at Fox Valley Ice Arena. The Steel allowed only 19 shots on goal, the fewest by an opponent this season. Brandon Duhaime had a goal and two assists for Chicago and Tanner Laczynski tallied two assists in the win.
Each team began the game with a strong defensive effort. There were only ten combined shots on goal during the first period. Marc Johnstone went into the penalty box for cross-checking late in the frame, but Chicago held the Thunder to only one shot on goal for the power play. Jake Jaremko had an opportunity to put the Steel in front shorthanded with a breakaway, but was stopped stone-cold with the blocker by Thunder netminder Logan Halladay to keep the game scoreless going into the first intermission.
Rakhmatov put Chicago on the scoreboard first in the second period. Laczynski made a tremendous hustle play by keeping the puck alive before the Bloomington goalie was able to freeze it. By doing so, he maintained possession for the Steel leading to Rakhmatov receiving a pass from Christiano Versich at the blue line and sneaking a wrist shot through traffic to beat the Thunder goalie glove-side at 6:02. Bloomington responded to tie the game as Blake Gober screened Chicago goalie John Lethemon and deflected Butrus Ghafari's shot past the netminder stick-side at 17:39. The Steel responded quickly when Rakhmatov found the net for the second time in the period. Laczynski found the Russian defenseman at the right point, and for the second time in the game, Rakhmatov beat Halladay glove side with just 19.4 seconds remaining in the frame for what ultimately proved to be the game-winning goal.
Duhaime gave Chicago a two-goal advantage early in the third period. Creative one-touch passing by Rakhmatov and Laczynski opened up Brandon Duhaime in the high slot. Duhaime rifled a one-time shot top-shelf at 3:24 making it 3-1 and put the game out of reach.
The victory marks the first time this season that the Steel have won consecutive games, and the team has earned at least one point in seven of their last eight games.
The Steel wrap up their six-game homestand Friday, November 27 as they face off with the Dubuque Fighting Saints at 7:30 p.m. Friday is Movember Night as the Steel raise awareness for men's health issues and funds for LivingWell Cancer Resource Center. It's also a Steel Family Pack game - fans can receive four tickets, four hot dogs, four sodas and four chuck-a-pucks starting at just $59. For more details or to purchase tickets, call 855-51-STEEL, visit the box office inside Fox Valley Ice Arena or visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.
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