Steel Drop 7-6 Overtime Game to End Wild Western Swing
February 27, 2021 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release
WATERLOO, IOWA - The Chicago Steel (24-8-3-0; 51 pts.) surrendered the last four goals of the game to the Waterloo Black Hawks (12-19-1-0; 25 pts.) including the overtime game- winner from Black Hawks defenseman Mason Reiners in a 7-6 overtime loss at Young Arena in Waterloo, Iowa on Saturday night.
Black Hawks forward Dane Montgomery led the way with two goals and two assists including a helper on the overtime winner from Reiners.
Steel netminder Nick Haas made 35 saves, just one shy of matching his season high, but suffered the setback in net and now has a 10-5-0-0 mark this season.
Chicago rookie forward Jack Harvey netted his first USHL goal with help from Sam Lipkin to kick off the scoring for the Steel. Lipkin, coming off his first USHL goal on Friday, dropped the puck to Harvey after gaining the offensive zone. Harvey collected it and let rip a wrist shot that went bar down past Black Hawks netminder Jack Williams.
Waterloo bounced back in a flash, tying the game just 30 seconds later and taking the lead just two minutes after its first goal.
After a forehand backhand move from Kyler Kleven was turned away by Haas, Alex Gaffney jumped on the rebound, tucking the puck under the pads of Haas for the first Black Hawks goal.
Steel rookie forward Adam Fantilli had a chance to reclaim the lead for Chicago but missed a goal by inches. The Nobleton, Ontario native blazed in on the right side, ripping a shot off the left post, leading to a breakaway for Black Hawks forward Max Sasson. The former Cedar Rapids RoughRider beat Haas top shelf to grab a 2-1 advantage for the home team.
Sean Farrell, the USHL's leader in points, registered his 20th marker of the year less than two minutes later when his toss from the left corner took a lucky bounce off a Waterloo defender and past Williams. The Steel and Black Hawks traded goals in the early portion of the middle frame before Chicago began to separate from Waterloo with three straight goals to break a 3-3 tie.
Erik Middendorf announced his presence in front of the net with a re-direct goal with an assist from defenseman Jack Bar. The captain's tally improved his goal total to 24 on the season, the second-most in the USHL.
Josh Doan capped the second period scoring with his second goal of the game. Lipkin collected his third helper of the night as he kept the puck in the Steel offensive zone with just one hand on his stick. The puck found its way to Farrell who tapped it to Doan to beat Williams through the five-hole.
That goal led to a Waterloo goaltending switch to begin the third period and after a rough start for Emmet Croteau, the change paid off.
Matt Coronato broke in with a breakaway chance just a minute into the final regulation frame to tally his league-leading 31st goal as he breezed by two defenders to rip a wrist shot past Croteau's glove.
Trailing 6-3, the Black Hawks began to chip away at the Steel lead.
Starting with Dan Montgomery's second goal of the night at the 6:23 mark of the final frame, Waterloo scored the final three goals in regulation in a span of four minutes.
Ryan O'Hara cut the deficit to 6-5 when Haas had a puck taken away behind his own net. Owen Ozar created the turnover and found O'Hara in the slot for the easy goal, his eighth of the year. Just 90 seconds later, Sasson jumped on a rebound chance and knotted up the score at 6-6 with half of the third period to play.
The Black Hawks posted 19 total shots on goal in the third period, the most of any team in a single period against the Steel this season, but neither team could capitalize in the final 10 minutes of regulation. Saturday marked the fourth consecutive overtime game for Chicago which had captured the extra point in the three previous overtime thrillers.
After a chance for Steel forward Sean Farrell early in the extra session, Mason Reiners ended the game for Waterloo. Sasson hit the blue line with speed, drawing Chicago defenders to the left corner with him, leaving Reiners alone in front of the net. Sasson hit his teammate as Reiners picked a clutch moment for his first goal of the season.
Despite the loss, the Steel earned three out of a possible four points on the weekend and concluded the month of February with a 7-2-1-0 record (15 pts.), holding on to the top spot in the USHL throughout the month.
Chicago heads to Michigan for three games in three days to begin the month of March. The Steel match up against the Muskegon Lumberjacks for two games on Friday, March 5 and Saturday March 6, with both games slated for 6:00 pm CT start times. The weekend concludes with Chicago's eighth consecutive road contest, a 3:00 pm CT clash against Team USA (U18) at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Mich.
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:
Friday, March 5 at Muskegon Lumberjacks (6:00 pm CT)
Saturday, March 6 at Muskegon Lumberjacks (6:00 pm CT)
Sunday, March 7 at Team USA (U18) (3:00 pm CT)
For more information, call 855-51-STEEL or visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.
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United States Hockey League Stories from February 27, 2021
- Right Time for Reiners - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Steel Drop 7-6 Overtime Game to End Wild Western Swing - Chicago Steel
- Gameday Preview: vs. Sioux City - Lincoln Stars
- Storm Host Force on Painted Ice to Begin Concrete Cares Weekend - Tri-City Storm
- Lancers Down Black Hawks, 6-2 - Omaha Lancers
- Phantoms Fall to Muskegon 4-2 - Youngstown Phantoms
- Stars Secure Point, But Fall Short in Shootout - Lincoln Stars
- Coronato and Farrell Set Steel Franchise Records - Chicago Steel
- Three "Twos" Lift Lancers - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Musketeers Earn Shootout Victory over Lincoln - Sioux City Musketeers
- Gamblers Win a Shootout Thriller - Green Bay Gamblers
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