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USHL Chicago Steel

Steel Drop 7-2 Decision to Muskegon Saturday Night

January 30, 2021 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release


GENEVA, ILLINOIS - The Chicago Steel (16-6-2-0; 34 pts.) were outmatched by the Muskegon Lumberjacks (16-7-1-1; 34 pts.) in a 7-2 Lumberjacks victory on Saturday night at Fox Valley Ice Arena.

Muskegon tallied the first three goals and the last four goals of the game in a wire-to-wire victory. Eric Middendorf and Sean Farrell recorded markers for Chicago.

The loss marks the first time since January 25 and 26, 2020 that the Steel have dropped back- to-back games in regulation.

Quinn Hutson opened the offensive outburst for the Lumberjacks after Dylan Wendt put Muskegon's first shot on net with just over six minutes gone in the first. Chicago netminder Nick Haas made the initial save but a rebound bounced right to Hutson who was there for the first goal of the night.

Nick Haas turned away 10 shots in the first period but two saves stood above the rest.

Muskegon forward and San Jose Sharks draft pick Danil Gushchin forced a turnover at the Steel blue line and broke in alone against Haas. The netminder from Buffalo stopped an initial shot attempt and a follow up stuff attempt from Gushchin to keep the score at 1-0.

Late in the first period, the Steel, already playing with several key players out of the lineup for the third consecutive weekend, lost the USHL's leading scorer Matt Coronato when he received a major penalty and game misconduct for kicking.

The Steel were able to kill off the five-minute major, but Muskegon would pick up the scoring in a busy second period.

Lumberjacks forward Tanner Kelly picked off an errant Steel pass in the Muskegon offensive zone just three minutes into the period, ripping home a wrister on a lightning-quick scoring chance.

Nick Portz, playing in just his fourth game for the Lumberjacks after being acquired on Jan. 18, had registered points in all three appearances with his new club coming into Saturday night.

That streak continued as he tallied the third Lumberjacks goal of the game midway through the second period.

Shortly after falling behind 3-0, Chicago was sent to its first power play of the night. On a set play, Ryan Ufko dropped a pass to Josh Doan who gained the offensive zone. After a strong individual effort to absorb a check, Doan flipped the puck to Erik Middendorf who unleashed a wrister on Muskegon netminder Nathan Reid. Although Reid got a piece of it, the shot trickled in for the first Chicago marker of the game.

Just three minutes later, a pair of Steel veterans stepped up as Sean Farrell and Dawson Pasternak teamed up for a beautiful passing play. After Farrell stole the puck in the Steel offensive zone, he fed Pasternak on the left side of the net who one-touched the return back to Farrell for an easy goal.

Just as Chicago flipped the momentum, the Lumberjacks were able to extend the lead back to a two-goal cushion when Christophe Tellier netted his first of two goals on the night.

Heading into the third trailing by two goals, Chicago could not solve the Lumberjacks attack.

Cameron Berg, the third-leading goal scorer in the USHL, tucked home his 17th of the year after Jack Williams picked off a pass during a Lumberjacks penalty kill. Berg's shorthanded tally pushed the lead to 5-2 with just under 13 minutes to play.

Tellier and Tanner Kelly added to the scoring binge in the third period as the Lumberjacks put the game out of reach, taking a 7-2 victory.

Nick Haas made 22 saves between the Steel pipes in the loss.

The five-goal margin was the largest for Chicago in a loss since April 6, 2019 against the Dubuque Fighting Saints.

The Steel and Lumberjacks close out the weekend with a Sunday afternoon matchup at Fox Valley Ice Arena slated for a 3:05 pm CT puck drop. After the series finale, Chicago returns to action with two road games against the Green Bay Gamblers on Friday, Feb. 5 and Saturday, Feb. 6 with both games scheduled for 7:05 pm CT.

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 presented by Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush:

Sunday, January 31 vs Muskegon Lumberjacks (3:05 pm CT) presented by Geneva Family Dental

Friday, February 5 at Green Bay Gamblers (7:05 pm CT)

Saturday, February 6 at Green Bay Gamblers (7:05 pm CT)

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

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United States Hockey League Stories from January 30, 2021


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