Steel Claim Third Straight with Road Win Friday
Published on November 17, 2023 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA - Three second-period goals and a shut-down third period propelled the Chicago Steel (4-8-1-1, 10 pts.) to their third straight victory, a 5-3 win over the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (8-7-1-1) at ImOn Ice Arena on Friday night.
Mick Thompson and Ben Yurchuk each notched a goal and an assist in the win, and Michael Hage registered two assists. Joey DelGreco added another power play goal, his third in two games, to extend his point streak to four games.
Goaltender Christian Manz made 21 stops on 24 shots to record his fourth win of the season. The 24 shots were the fewest allowed by the Steel this season.
Looking to start the weekend on a high note, the Steel got to work right away.
After a dump in, forward Mick Thompson got in first on the forecheck and sent a pass to the blue line where a point shot bounced off bodies in front of the net. Thompson came streaking in and poked the free puck into the open net to put Chicago in front.
Thompson's fifth goal of the year had assists from Jordan Brisson and Anthony Cardilli.
Chicago owned most of the period following its goal, but the RoughRiders' booming offense showed life late in the frame when Connor Smith sniped his fourth goal of the season to tie the game at one.
While on the penalty kill in the late stages of the first, Owen Tylec saw a shorthanded opportunity after gaining possession in the neutral zone. The Notre Dame commit had a brief breakaway, but a backchecking Ryan Philbrick harassed Tylec enough to negate a strong shot and keep the game tied at one.
Just :23 into the second frame, Charlie Major drew a tripping call to send the Steel to its first power play of the night.
Coming off a 3-for-4 outing on the power play against Madison on Nov. 10, the Steel man advantage continued to excel as Michael Hage used his great speed to slither behind the Cedar Rapids' defense and send a wonderful pass to the reigning Forward of the Week Joey DelGreco for a pretty-looking power play goal.
The lead didn't last for Chicago as the RoughRiders received a power play of their own shortly after the Steel goal.
It took :36 for Cedar Rapids to cash in on its second power play of the night as Landan Resendes had an open look at the right faceoff circles and ripped a shot over the glove of Steel goaltender Christian Manz that tied the game at two.
Chicago didn't let the response from Cedar Rapids trip them up, as a buzzing Steel forecheck would again help the road team.
A shot at the blue line from Price Grimes was blocked before it got through, and Ben Yurchuk, with his back turned to the net, punched a blind backhand shot past RoughRiders netminder Sam Scopa to again give Chicago the lead.
Thompson had a helper along with Grimes on the third tiebreaking goal of the game.
Looking to break the call-and-response theme, the Steel took the first two-goal lead of the night two minutes later after an elongated forecheck.
The fourth goal started with a two-on-one with DelGreco and Kolin Sisson. DelGreco sauced a pass to Sisson on the near side, but his shot deflected off a skate and the outside of the post.
Chicago reset in its own end as Sisson started up ice and flopped a perfect pass to an open Charlie Major charging down the left side who sniped a shot underneath the glove of Scopa to make it 4-2 Steel.
The RoughRiders came back with a big push after the halfway point of the period.
While on another man advantage, a shot from Elliott Groenewold hit Smith in the chest and plopped down to his feet. Manz couldn't see the shot, allowing Smith to send it home for another PPG that brought Cedar Rapids to within one.
Early in the third, Steel defenseman Thor Byfuglien hit the crossbar with a shot to set the tone in the final frame.
Shortly after the great chance, DelGreco sent a pass to Ben Wilmott who had a good look, but some timely stops from Scopa kept it a one-goal game.
It remained a one-goal game for most of the period until the Steel found the back of the net after a handful of close calls.
Following a back-door feed from Owen Tylec, a Yurchuk shot didn't have much juice behind it, but the puck deflected off a stick and found Tylec once again, who picked the far corner for a big-time goal that made it 5-3.
The RoughRiders pulled their goaltender in the final minutes, but the Steel held strong to shut out Cedar Rapids in the third period.
The Steel return home to host a two-game set with the Youngstown Phantoms on Saturday, November 18 at 7:05 pm and Sunday, November 19 at 3:05 pm.
Saturday is an Education Game while Sunday is Trolls Day with a special guest appearance from Poppy and a Steel Family Pack Game. Fans can get four tickets, hot dogs, chips, sodas/waters and chuck-a-pucks for just $60.
Single game tickets are on sale now starting at just $10. All Steel tickets are digital and fans are encouraged to purchase online in advance at ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.
For more information, call 855-51-STEEL or visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.
Chicago Steel Upcoming Schedule presented by Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush:
Saturday, November 18 vs. Youngstown Phantoms (7:05 pm CT) | Education Game
Sunday, November 19 vs. Youngstown Phantoms (3:05 pm CT) | Trolls Day | Family Pack Game
Friday, November 24 at Fargo Force (7:05 pm CT)
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