Steel Earn Point But Fall 5-4 in Overtime against Muskegon
April 23, 2022 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release
GENEVA, ILLINOIS - The final regular season action at Fox Valley Ice Arena ended with a dramatic finish as the Chicago Steel (38-13-8-1; 86 pts.) fell 5-4 in overtime against the Muskegon Lumberjacks (33-22-3-3; 72 pts.) on Friday night.
Chicago now holds a one point advantage over the Dubuque Fighting Saints for first place in the Eastern Conference with one game remaining on the schedule for both clubs.
Despite three straight third period goals to help the Steel jump out to a 4-2 advantage, Muskegon answered by forcing the ga me into extra time before Ethan Whitcomb's seventh goal of the season earned an extra point for the Lumberjacks.
Steel goals were scored by Zam Plante, Jayden Perron, Lukas Gustafsson and Sam Lipkin.
Christian Manz made 23 saves in the overtime loss.
A scoreless first period was highlighted by Manz making one of his 10 opening period stops with a sharp glove save on a point shot early in the game to help cancel out the first penalty taken by Chicago.
Rookie Jayden Perron earned a pair of chances including nearly a highlight-reel play, going between his legs before being turned away by Muskegon netminder Chase Clark.
It took less than a minute into the middle frame for the Steel to break the tie as rookie forward Zam Plante lost his defender on the way to the front of the net. Set up by Dylan Robbins and Anthony Dowd, Plante found himself on the doorstep to tap in a pass putting the Steel ahead 1- 0.
On their second and final power play of the game, the Lumberjacks broke through to tie the game as Jack Williams, falling to his stomach, got off a one-timer from the left circle that beat Manz.
Jake Richard struck with just under a minute of time in the middle frame for Muskegon. Richard got his stick on a point shot from David Hymovitch for his 17th of the year, putting the Lumberjacks ahead for the first time in the game.
Joe Miller came inches away from tying the game for Chicago but the Toronto Maple Leafs prospect was robbed by a sliding save from Clark just before time expired in the second.
Aleksandr Kuleshov relieved Clark to start the third period for the Lumberjacks but the Steel welcomed him to the game with three straight goals.
Another early goal to start the period helped the Steel to tie the game in the third, this time scored by rookie Jayden Perron. The Winnipeg, Manitoba, native took a feed from Andon Cerbone with speed towards the net, dodged a defender and went bar-down for his 16th of the season. Perron skated to the boards to celebrate in front of family members who made the drive from Winnipeg to Fox Valley Ice Arena.
Lukas Gustafsson re-took the lead for Chicago as the defender gathered a loose puck off the boards, took two strides to the middle and ripped a wrister past Kuleshov to give Chicago a 3-2 edge.
Sam Lipkin added to the cushion just over three minutes later with a skill-filled move going from his forehand to his backhand behind the right post, drawing Kuleshov out of the net before tucking the puck home with a last-minute switch to his forehand.
The Lumberjacks quickly halted the Steel momentum with Richard's second goal of the night. In on a breakaway, Richard deked Manz and tucked a puck behind his pads, cutting the deficit to one goal.
Quinn Hutson, Muskegon's points leader, knotted the game with just under six minutes to play.
Fighting for position, Hutson jumped on rebound from point-blank range for his 33rd marker of the year.
In overtime Ethan Whitcomb danced around a Chicago defender, using his teammate as a screen, before releasing a shot that found its way past Manz to give Muskegon a 5-4 win.
Chicago travels to Muskegon for the conclusion of the 2021-2022 regular season with a contest on Saturday, April 23 at 6:10 pm CT against the Lumberjacks, needing two points to clinch the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
The Steel are offering "Pay As We Play" for the 2022 Clark Cup Playoffs, a special ticket offer to secure the same seat for each home playoff game as long as the Steel continue to advance in the postseason. Fans are encouraged to call 855-51-STEEL or email info@chicagosteelhockeyteam.com for more information or fill out the Pay As We Play form.
Tickets for the Eastern Conference Semifinals are now on sale starting at just $10 and are available in person at the Steel Box Office at Fox Valley Ice Arena, by phone at 855-51-STEEL and online at chicagosteelhockeyteam.com. The Steel offer single-game ticket discounts for kids 12 and under and military.
The Steel have earned a First Round bye and will begin the playoffs April 30 before hosting Games 2 and 3 (if necessary) on May 2 and 3.
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).
For more information, call 855-51-STEEL or visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.
Eastern Conference Semifinals (best-of-three series)
- Opponent TBD
Game 1: Saturday, April 30 - Away Game
Game 2: Monday, May 2, 7:05 p.m. - Fox Valley Ice Arena
Game 3: Tuesday, May 3, 7:05 p.m. - Fox Valley Ice Arena (if necessary)
United States Hockey League Stories from April 23, 2022
- Caps Fall in Regular Season Finale, Turn Focus to Playoffs - Madison Capitols
- Gamblers Cap off Season with Win - Green Bay Gamblers
- Storm Ties USHL Record for Most Points in Regular Season - Tri-City Storm
- RoughRiders Edge Fighting Saints in Overtime - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Three-Peat: Fighting Saints Capture Dupaco Cowbell Cup for Third Consecutive Season - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Hawks Playoff Schedule Set - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Hawks Shutout Caps in Season Finale - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Steel Clinch Top Seed in East, Defeat Muskegon 6-5 - Chicago Steel
- Jacks Fall 6-5 to Chicago in Regular Season Finale - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Lancers Fall to Sioux City in Last Regular Season Game - Omaha Lancers
- Caps Make History with First Clark Cup Playoff Berth Since Return to USHL - Madison Capitols
- Stars Fall in Kearney - Lincoln Stars
- Fighting Saints Notch 40th Win in Shootout - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Steel Earn Point But Fall 5-4 in Overtime against Muskegon - Chicago Steel
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