Steel Defeat Phantoms 2-1 Friday
December 2, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release
GENEVA, ILLINOIS - Tyler Gratton scored the game-winning goal early in the second period Friday to lead the Chicago Steel (15-4-1-1, 32 pts.) to a 2-1 victory over the Youngstown Phantoms (11-9-1-1, 24 pts.) at Covelli Centre. Jake Jaremko recorded Chicago's other goal, while Reggie Lutz (0G+1A) extended his point streak to four games. Ales Stezka made 25 saves in the win, ending Youngstown's five-game point streak.
Phantoms leading scorer Nicolas Werbik put the game's first goal up on the board at the 10:32 mark, firing a shot from the right circle past Stezka. Chicago was held without a shot on goal for the first half of the first period, but got things going later in the frame. Jaremko stickhandled into the low slot and roofed a shot over Phantoms netminder Ivan Kulbakov at 16:54. Lutz picked up an assist for his Steel-leading 19th point of the season. The score remained tied, 1-1, after 20 minutes of play.
Chicago took the lead early in the second when winger Tyler Gratton sent an innocent backhanded shot on goal from just inside the right wing circle. The puck snuck past Kulbakov's stick side at 2:10. The Phantoms dominated the period in shots, 13-6, but Chicago held onto the 2-1 lead at the second intermission.
The Steel limited the Phantoms to just five shots in the third period, including 1:42 of extra attacker time to close out the game.
Chicago was held to just six shots per period, totaling a season-low of 18. The Steel went 0-for-2 on the power play and 3-for-3 on the penalty kill.
Chicago wraps up its weekend road trip Saturday with a visit to Team USA (U18) at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Mich. Faceoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. CST. The Steel return home next weekend for a pair of games against the Fargo Force, highlighted by the annual Teddy Bear Toss on Saturday, Dec. 10, when fans are invited to throw a new, unwrapped stuffed animal onto the ice after Chicago's first goal of the game. All stuffed animals collected will be donated to Goodwill in St. Charles. For tickets or more information, call 855-51-STEEL, stop by the Box Office at Fox Valley Ice Arena or visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.
Chicago Steel 2 at Youngstown Phantoms 1 - Status: Final Friday - Covelli Centre
Chicago 1 1 0 - 2 Youngstown 1 0 0 - 1
1st Period-1, Youngstown, Werbik 10 (Norris, Esposito), 10:32. 2, Chicago, Jaremko 6 (Lutz), 16:54. Penalties-served by Walker Chi (bench minor-too many men), 3:23.
2nd Period-3, Chicago, Gratton 2 (Green, Kiersted), 2:10. Penalties-Gingell Yng (elbowing), 13:02.
3rd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Johnstone Chi (cross checking), 1:58; Lillibridge Chi (holding), 5:07; Karow Yng (tripping), 6:45.
Shots on Goal-Chicago 6-6-6-18. Youngstown 8-13-5-26. Power Play Opportunities-Chicago 0 / 2; Youngstown 0 / 3. Goalies-Chicago, Stezka 7-3-0-1 (26 shots-25 saves). Youngstown, Kulbakov 9-5-1-1 (18 shots-16 saves). A-1,129 Referees-Justin Keenan (36). Linesmen-Logan Wetekamp (95), Darek Kalisz (82).
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