Steel Earn Important Point in Overtime Loss Friday
March 30, 2018 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release
BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS - The Chicago Steel (24-24-2-5, 55 pts.) battled back to tie the Central Illinois Flying Aces (14-36-2-3, 33 pts.) three separate times Friday night, but ultimately fell in overtime, 4-3, thanks to Calen Kiefiuk's game-winning tally at Grossinger Motors Arena.
Chicago received goals from Robert Mastrosimone (15), Blake McLaughlin (22), and a late third period equalizer from Samuel Bucek (18) in the loss. Chicago earned a point in defeat and now leads Cedar Rapids by four points in the race for the sixth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot.
Central Illinois forward Jeremy Davidson opened the game's scoring 12:42 into the first period when his wrist shot found room low on Steel goaltender Justin Robbins' glove side. Max Andreev started the play when he collected a loose puck in the Chicago zone and fed Davidson a pass in the high slot.
Mastrosimone then tied things up for the Steel with 53 seconds remaining in the opening period to push his point streak to five games (3-6-9). The forward notched his 15th of the season with a wrist shot from the top of the circle and past the glove of Flying Aces goaltender Ryan Snowden. Nick Abruzzese assisted on the goal and continued his three-game point streak (2-3-5).
Bradley Marek scored on the power play 3:12 into the second period to give the Flying Aces their second lead of the game. Robbins knocked down Marek's slap shot from the high slot but the puck trickled over the goal line.
Later in the period, McLaughlin lit the lamp to make things even again. The University of Minnesota commit fired a one-time shot past the glove of Snowden after a failed clearing attempt from the Flying Aces at the 12:22 mark.
The seesaw game continued as the Flying Aces took their third lead of the night thanks to a Lucas Breault goal with just 1:08 left in the middle frame. Breault's shot deflected off the stick of Chicago defenseman Jeremie Bucheler and past Robbins.
Chicago was denied on multiple power play chances in the third before Bucek tied things up with 4:33 to play in the game. The Slovakian forward's 18th goal of the season came off a deflection of a Baker Shore shot from the blue line to tie things up for the third time in the game. The assist for Shore extended his point streak to six games (3-6-9).
At the 1:33 mark of overtime, Kiefiuk found the puck along the left wing, skated in alone and fired a blocker-side wrist shot to win the game.
Each team had five attempts on the power play with the lone tally coming from Central Illinois' Marek early in the second period. The Steel outshot the Flying Aces 32-22, including a 15-3 advantage in the third period.
The Steel are back in action for a 7:05 p.m. showdown Saturday at the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders. Steel games are carried live on Mixlr (free audio) and HockeyTV (iPPV). For more information, visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com/broadcast.
Chicago's lone remaining home game of the regular season is Fan Appreciation Night on Friday, April 13 against Central Illinois. Fan Appreciation Night will feature a team photo giveaway for the first 1,000 fans in attendance, as well as prizes given away all night long from the Steel and corporate partners including gift cards, unique fan experiences and more. For more information, or to purchase tickets, call 855-51-STEEL, stop by the Box Office at Fox Valley Ice Arena or visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.
United States Hockey League Stories from March 30, 2018
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