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USHL Chicago Steel

Steel Capture Thrilling 3-2 Overtime Victory

February 13, 2021 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release


GENEVA, ILLINOIS - Ryan Ufko came through in the clutch, tallying the overtime game- winner and the Chicago Steel (21-6-2-0; 44 pts.) prevailed in a thriller against the Dubuque Fighting Saints (10-15-1-0; 21 pts.), 3-2 on Saturday night at Fox Valley Ice Arena.

With the overtime victory, the Steel extended their win streak to five games, their second- longest streak of the 2020-2021 campaign.

Joe Miller registered his second multi-point game of the season with a goal and a helper as Chicago netminder Simon Latkoczy made 23 saves in the win.

Despite the Fighting Saints winning the shots on goal battle by a 25-17 margin through regulation and overtime, the Steel made the most of their chances to earn a fifth consecutive win.

The Steel wore special 'blackout jerseys' presented by FONA International that are currently being auctioned off online to benefit the Geneva Academic Foundation.

Dressed in black, silver and dark red tones, the home team took the lead early into the first period after beautiful puck movement through the neutral zone. Adam Fantilli took a drop pass from Jake Livanavage in the offensive zone and zipped a pass from the right circle to Joe Miller, setting up to the left of the crease. Miller one-timed home his third goal of the year to put the Steel up 1-0.

Near the end of the opening frame, Dubuque's first goal was tallied by Andrei Buyalsky with a gorgeous forehand-backhand move on a breakaway to beat Steel goaltender Simon Latkoczy.

A choppy period for both teams resulted in the Fighting Saints holding the Steel to just three shots on goal through the opening 20 minutes, matching the lowest shot total for Chicago in a period this season.

More of the same came in the middle frame as defense once again took center stage.

A pair of defensemen for the Steel made the play of the night to that point shortly into the second. Buyalsky broke in with another forehand-backhand move that was turned away by Latkoczy as the netminder slipped out of his net leaving an empty crease. Jack Babbage and Ian Moore both ducked into the net, blocking a sure goal from Dubuque.

Of Chicago's four shot attempts in the middle frame, Matt Coronato had the best opportunity.

The Harvard University commit broke free during a penalty kill and had a one-on-one chance with Lukas Parik in the Dubuque net. Coronato's forehand shot just caught a piece of the top of Parik's glove and went above the cage, keeping the score deadlocked at 1-1.

The visitors broke through in the early part of the third period with a redirection from Max Burkholder. The defenseman got a piece of a shot from P.J. Fletcher, tallying his second marker of the year just two minutes into the frame.

The Steel were quick to respond as Erik Middendorf buried his 22nd goal of the season. Adam Robbins fed Middendorf a pass off the right wing boards as Middendorf was all alone in the right circle. The Michigan State University-bound forward walked the end line and beat Parik to tie the game at 2-2 with 16 minutes to play in regulation.

After neither team broke through despite chances in the final minutes of the third, the contest proceeded to overtime.

Ufko, recently elevated to a 'B'-level prospect on NHL Central Scouting's most recent watch list released on Jan. 21, 2021, collected a pass from Joe Miller on the left point and used the open overtime ice to his advantage. Ufko skated down the left side of the offensive zone and beat Parik with a wrist shot for his eighth marker of the season.

Forward Sean Farrell did not factor in any of the three Chicago goals as his USHL record 24 game single-season point streak came to an end. Chicago concludes its three-game weekend with a rematch of Saturday night's contest against the Fighting Saints on Sunday at Fox Valley Ice Arena with a 3:05 pm CT puck drop.

The Steel hit the road for their next eight games, the longest stretch of consecutive road games during the 2020-2021 season.

Chicago Steel games can 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 presented by Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush:

Sunday, February 14 vs. Dubuque Fighting Saints (3:05 pm CT) presented by FONA International

Friday, February 19 at Team USA (U18) (6:00 pm CT)

Saturday, February 20 at Youngstown Phantoms (6:05 pm CT)

For more information, call 855-51-STEEL or visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.

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United States Hockey League Stories from February 13, 2021


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