Steel Clinch Playoff Berth with 10th Consecutive Victory
February 28, 2020 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release
MADISON, WISCONSIN - The Chicago Steel (38-7-1-0, 77 pts) became the first team in the USHL to clinch a spot in the Clark Cup Playoffs with a 6-3 victory over the Madison Capitols on Friday night at Bob Suter's Capitol Ice Arena. Sam Colangelo registered his second career hat trick, Matt Coronato tallied two goals and Gunnarwolfe Fontaine added a marker while Victor Ostman made a career-best 40 saves between the Steel pipes.
Chicago has now won 10 in a row, the club's second double-digit win streak of the season. The Steel victory gives the team 38 wins on the season pulling into a tie for most wins in a single year, joining the 2016-17 squad which registered a 38-17-2-3 record.
The first goal of the night came on a Chicago power play, the fifth straight game the Steel have reached the back of the net with a man advantage.
Brendan Brisson took a cross-ice feed from Sean Farrell and put a spin-o-rama move on Madison forward Ricky Lyle in the right circle. Brisson fed the puck back to the left side where Sam Colangelo snuck a wrist shot past Capitol netminder Christian Stoever for his first goal of the opening frame.
The previous two meetings between Madison and Chicago resulted in Steel shutouts but that streak was put to an end as Lyle tallied a shorthanded goal just 24 seconds after Colangelo opened the game's scoring. The Steel turned over a puck behind their own net which was picked up by Brockton Baker and fed to Lyle on the right side of the net evening the score at 1-1 for the time being.
Colangelo tallied his second goal of the night to re-take the lead for the Steel. Colangelo was once again the recipient of a feed setting him up on the left side, this time with an assist from Sean Farrell. After circling the net, Farrell dished the puck to Colangelo who grabbed a share of the team lead in goals with his 25th of the season.
The Steel lead extended to two as Gunnarwolfe Fontaine cleaned up a rebound off a point shot from Chicago blueliner Uula Ruikka. Fontaine was positioned all alone on the right side of the net when Ruikka's shot was turned away by Stoever's pad, picking up the loose change and tucking it past Stoever's stick side. Fontaine moved into a three-way tie with Colangelo and Mathieu De St. Phalle for the team lead in goals with 25 markers apiece for Chicago this year.
Leading 3-1 in the second period, Matt Coronato tallied a pair of goals in the middle frame to join Colangelo with multiple markers on the night.
The Huntington, N.Y., native extended his point streak (5G, 4A) to five games with his first tuck just two and a half minutes into the second. Coronato executed a give and go with Dawson Pasternak to beat Stoever as the lead inflated to 4-1.
Madison fought back and seemed to grab extra momentum from the home crowd when Lyle and Patrick Schmiedlin worked together in the offensive zone. Schmiedlin took a pass from Lyle and ripped a wrister to cut the deficit to 4-2 with 12 minutes to go in the middle frame.
Just before the second period expired, Coronato struck with his second marker, a snipe from the right faceoff circle to extend the lead to 5-2.
Madison, on the man advantage after a Chicago double-minor for high sticking, cut the lead to two midway through the third period when Stepan Pokorny tipped home a centering pass from the doorstep.
Colangelo notched his hat trick on the empty net, grabbing sole possession of the team lead in goals, to close out the game and seal the win, punching the club 's ticket to the 2020 Clark Cup Playoffs.
The playoff-bound Steel will look to set a new franchise record for single-season victories when they make their return to Fox Valley Ice Arena on Sat., Feb. 29 for the team's Teddy Bear Toss presented by Geneva Family Dental. Fans are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped stuffed animal to toss onto the ice after the te am'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: Sat., Feb. 29 vs. Madison Capitols 7:05 pm (Teddy Bear Toss presented by Geneva Family Dental) Fri., March 6 at Dubuque Fighting Saints 7:05 pm Sat., March 7 vs. Dubuque Fighting Saints 7:05 pm (Third Annual Wiener Dog Races, Raising Cane's Kids Day)
For more information and to purchase Steel tickets, call 855-51-STEEL or visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.
• Discuss this story on the United States Hockey League message board...
United States Hockey League Stories from February 28, 2020
- Lumberjacks Overcome Missed Opportunities, Top Visiting Fargo in OT - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Millette's Third Period Goal Lifts Dubuque 4-3 - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Herd Triumphs 3-1 over Cedar Rapids - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Storm Fall to Rival Stars 6-2 - Tri-City Storm
- Steel Clinch Postseason with Victory - Madison Capitols
- Steel Clinch Playoff Berth with 10th Consecutive Victory - Chicago Steel
- Hawks Start Trip Right - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Spring Break Starts at Young Arena - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Preview: Storm Set for Weekend Series against Stars - Tri-City Storm
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
