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USHL Chicago Steel

Steel Beat Waterloo 5-2 In Battle Of Conference Leaders

February 22, 2020 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release


WATERLOO, IOWA - What became a special teams battle tilted in favor of the Chicago Steel (35-7-1-0, 71 pts) as the club tallied two power-play goals on the way to a 5-2 victory over the Waterloo Black Hawks (29-13-2-0, 60 pts), the top team in the Western Conference, Saturday night at Young Arena. The Steel cancelled out all five infractions taken on the night while netminder Victor Ostman turned away 36 shots, a new career best for the Danderyd, Sweden, native.

Chicago has won its last seven games with the five most recent victories coming after the Steel surrendered the first goal in each game. The Steel are the first team in the USHL to reach the 70-point mark in the standings this season.

The Black Hawks took the early momentum on home ice with the first goal of the game. Forward Ondrej Psenicka took advantage of the wide Young Arena ice surface, charging down the left wing and cutting to the net to beat Ostman high on his glove side.

The Steel fought their way back as Sam Colangelo made his own power move just two minutes later to even the score. The Stoneham, Mass., native showed off his strength with the puck as he circled the offensive zone from the high slot around the left circle. Colangelo jammed a forehand shot past Black Hawk goaltender Logan Stein for his 23rd marker of the season and the first tally of the evening for Chicago.

After being unable to capitalize on the man advantage for a five-game stretch earlier in the month, Chicago made it back-to-back games with a power play goal late in the first.

Mackie Samoskevich lit the lamp just eight seconds into the club's second man advantage chance on the night. After the University of Michigan-bound skater caught a pass from Gunnarwolfe Fontaine in the right circle and had enough time to walk in on Stein, Samoskevich picked the high glove side to take a 2-1 advantage into the intermission.

After the Black Hawks struck iron just 20 seconds into the middle frame, Xander Lamppa found the net when he cleaned up a rebound off the pad of Ostman.

The goal pulled the game to a 2-2 deadlock that could have turned into a Waterloo comeback with a golden power play chance early in the second period. During a Chicago power play, Sam Colangelo and Gunnarwolfe Fontaine were both whistled for infractions just 25 seconds apart, giving the home team an abbreviated 4-on-3 advantage which evolved into a 5-on-3 for 30 seconds. Ostman and the Chicago penalty kill fought off Black Hawk chances to keep the game at a 2-2 stalemate before Elis Hede chose an opportune time for his second goal of the season.

Late in the middle frame, Jimmy Dowd Jr. and Matt Coronato drew Waterloo defenders to the left corner of the Steel offensive zone, leaving Hede all alone in the slot to buzz home a one- timer from Coronato, putting the Steel ahead for good.

The Black Hawks put 18 shots on goal in the second period with Ostman turning away 17 pucks in the middle frame.

Fontaine took advantage of a four-minute power play in the third period as he rocketed home his 22nd marker of the season with just over 12 minutes to play in the contest. The Northeastern University-bound forward went high glove side on Stein for the first of his two goals on the night.

Chicago forward Mathieu De St. Phalle picked up his second assist of the game on Fontaine's goal, recording his 100th point as a member of the Chicago Steel.

Chicago went down a man with just over three minutes remaining in the game, getting another clutch penalty kill in the closing moments of the game.

Fontaine put the finishing touches on the night when he chased down a zone clearance from Brendan Brisson and found the empty net for his second tally of the contest.

With the victory, Chicago swept the two-game season series from Waterloo. Dating back to the teams first meeting on Nov. 2, the Steel have won 28 of their last 32 games.

The Steel continue on the road for its next three matchups including a Sunday matinee in Madison on Feb. 23, but return to Fox Valley Ice Arena on Sat., Feb. 29 for the team'sTeddy 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:

Sun., Feb. 23 at Madison Capitols 3:05 pm

Wed., Feb. 26 at Youngstown Phantoms 9:30 am

Fri., Feb. 28 at Madison Capitols 3:05 pm

For more information and to purchase Steel tickets, call 855-51-STEEL or visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.

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United States Hockey League Stories from February 22, 2020


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