Steel Capture 7-1 Road Win, Lead Best-Of-Five Series 2-1
May 21, 2021 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release
FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA - The Chicago Steel scored six unanswered goals to pull away from the Fargo Force and win 7-1 at Scheels Arena in North Dakota in Game 3 of the best-of- five Clark Cup Final on Friday night. Chicago leads the series 2 to 1 heading into Game 4 Saturday night.
Matt Coronato led the way for the visitors, tallying two goals and adding an assist. Erik Middendorf, Josh Doan, Sean Farrell, Adam Fantilli and Sam Lipkin each picked up goals of their own.
Steel netminder Simon Latkoczy turned away 22 shots to earn the win. Latkoczy has now allowed zero or one goal in four of his seven games played during the 2021 Clark Cup Playoffs.
Though the start of the game produced just three combined shots on goal in the first 10 minutes, both teams were able to break through soon after with Chicago scoring twice.
The league's leader in postseason goals tallied the first power play goal of the series for Chicago on the night's first man advantage. Matt Coronato had a wide-open cage after precision passing from Sean Farrell and Erik Middendorf, clapping home a one-timer from the left circle.
Off the ensuing faceoff, Cody Monds tied the game for Fargo. The Brockville, Ontario, native picked up a loose puck after Tristan Broz was poke-checked by Latkoczy, sneaking the puck behind the Steel netminder.
Coronato factored in with an essential play just before the buzzer to help the Steel pull in front.
The Harvard University-bound forward took a hit but dished the puck to Mackie Samoskevich in the offensive zone. Samoskevich threw the puck to the front of the net as Erik Middendorf re- directed it home with just under a minute left in the opening frame.
The Steel brought a one-goal cushion into the middle frame. After the first period produced just 11 combined shots between the clubs, Chicago took control of the game with two goals on 14 shots in the second period.
Coronato added to his productive night with his third point of the game. After an initial stop on a shot by Ryan Ufko, Coronato dove past Fargo goaltender Brennan Boynton to pounce on a loose puck and slide it home to extend the Steel lead to 3-1.
Josh Doan ripped home a wrister with a lightning-quick release midway through the contest.
Doan picked the top right corner on Boynton, pushing the lead to 4-1 and chasing Boynton from the contest, replaced by Andrew Miller who had started the first two games of the series for Fargo.
Latkoczy protected the lead when Fargo sustained pressure in the final three minutes of the middle frame. On three separate sequences, Latkoczy kept the three-goal cushion with athletic side-to-side stops.
Chicago kept the pressure on in the final frame with three more goals to seal the one-sided victory.
Sean Farrell's backcheck, lifting a Fargo stick, led to the Steel exiting their defensive zone early in the third period. Doan found Farrell in the neutral zone as the Montreal Canadiens prospect broke free of three Force defenders, lighting the lamp to push the score to 5-1.
Adam Fantilli popped the back of the net with a power play goal, his sixth of the postseason, before Sam Lipkin put the icing on the cake with his first goal of the Clark Cup Playoffs.
With the 7-1 victory, Chicago leads the best-of-five championship series by a 2-1 margin with a chance to win the Clark Cup on Saturday in Fargo with Game 4 beginning at 6:05 pm CT.
Game 5, if necessary, would be played on Tuesday, May 25 at Fox Valley Ice Arena with puck drop scheduled for 7:05 pm CT.
Tickets are on sale for Game 5 (if necessary) of the series by visiting ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com. Fans may also purchase tickets during regular business hours by calling 855-51-STEEL or in-person during select box office hours.
Chicago Steel games can be heard on Mixlr at http://mixlr.com/chicago-steel/ (FREE AUDIO) and video may be streamed on available devices through HockeyTV at www.hockeytv.com (STREAM).
Chicago Steel Upcoming Games presented by Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush:
Saturday, May 22 at Fargo Force (6:05 pm CT) Clark Cup Final - Game 4
*Tuesday, May 25 vs. Fargo Force (7:05 pm CT) Clark Cup Final - Game 5 presented by River Front Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram *if necessary
For more information, call 855-51-STEEL or visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.
United States Hockey League Stories from May 21, 2021
- Clark Cup Final Game 3 Recap - USHL
- Steel Capture 7-1 Road Win, Lead Best-Of-Five Series 2-1 - Chicago Steel
- Muskegon Lumberjacks Sign Gavin McCarthy to Tender Agreement - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Fargo Force Sign Forward Tanner Walos to Tender - Fargo Force
- 2021-22 U.S. National Under-17 Team Announced - U.S. National Team
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