Steel Battle Back, But Riders Escape With 3-2 Shootout Win Saturday
January 23, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release
GENEVA, ILLINOIS - The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (24-9-2-1, 51 points) escaped Fox Valley Ice Arena with a 3-2 shootout win Saturday over the Chicago Steel (15-17-3-3, 36 points). After the Steel battled back from a 2-0 deficit to force overtime, Cedar Rapids left wing Matt Filipe was the only player to score in a six-round shootout, securing a victory for the first-place RoughRiders. Following the shootout loss, Chicago has earned at least one point in seven of their last nine games.
RoughRiders right wing John Snodgrass opened up the game's scoring just over seven minutes into the opening period. Snodgrass found a loose puck eight feet in front of the net and beat Chicago goaltender Daniel Vladar over the left shoulder. The goal came on the second shot of the game for the RoughRiders. Cedar Rapids went into the first intermission leading 1-0.
Ross Colton extended the RoughRiders' lead 1:17 into the second frame. While playing four-on-four hockey, Cal Burke passed from behind the goal line to an open Colton in the slot. Colton moved the puck to his backhand and beat Vladar glove-side to increase Cedar Rapids' lead to 2-0. Later in the period, Max Zimmer cut the lead in half with a wraparound goal. Zimmer picked the pocket of a RoughRider defenseman along the wall, continued to drag the puck around from behind the net and ultimately beat Cedar Rapids netminder Ben Blacker past his left skate. Despite relentless pressure from the Steel, Cedar Rapids maintained their 2-1 lead going into the final frame.
The Steel found the equalizer five minutes into the final period. Tanner Laczynski connected with Christiano Versich at the far post. Versich lifted a one-time shot over the stick of Blacker to even the score at two apiece. Neither team found a game-winning goal through the rest of regulation or in overtime, resulting in Chicago heading to their fourth shootout of the season.
Vladar stopped five shootout attempts but could not block Filipe's in sixth round as he beat the Steel netminder glove-side for the game winner. Blacker stopped all six Chicago shooters.
Laczynski tallied his USHL-leading 27th assist of the season in the loss. Despite the loss, Chicago held Cedar Rapids to their fewest shot total for a game this season, while outshooting the RoughRiders 29-17. The Steel are now 1-3 in shootouts on the season.
The Steel remain home next weekend with a pair of Eastern Conference showdowns at Fox Valley Ice Arena. Chicago hosts the Madison Capitols on Friday, Jan. 29 at 7:30 p.m., followed by a visit from the Dubuque Fighting Saints on Saturday, Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at the box office inside Fox Valley Ice Arena, by phone at 855-51-STEEL or online at ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.
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