Steel Fall to Capitols in Madison
December 6, 2024 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release
MIDDLETON, WI - Trailing 3-1 through two periods, the Chicago Steel (7-15-2-0, 16 pts.) scored to start the third period and get within one, but the Madison Capitols (14-5-1-1. 30 pts.) scored back-to-back goals to put the game out of reach, coming away with a 5-2 win at Bob Suter's LEGACY20 Arena Friday night.
Kolin Sisson scored his team-leading 10th goal of the season for Chicago and Aidan Dyer added his sixth goal of the year in the third. Goaltender Louka Cloutier made 23 saves in defeat.
Madison came out firing to open the second consecutive matchup with Chicago, including a shot from Egor Barabanov that pinged off the crossbar after a two-on-one look 45 seconds into the game.
The Capitols stayed steady on offense and found the game's first goal at 2:28 after the Steel lost track of Max Rider during a board battle in the left corner. The puck came free out of the gathering and Alex Lunski found Rider open in front of the net for his second goal of the season.
Just over one minute later, the Capitols added another score on a harmless-looking play outside the goal crease, but the Steel failed to clear the puck out of danger, allowing Gavin Uhlenkamp to dish a pass to Aiden Long who scored his seventh goal of the season to make it a 2-0 lead.
Chicago went shorthanded ten seconds after the goal and killed the penalty, then quickly turned defense to offense to get within one.
With the power play expiring, Madison attempted a stretch pass from its own zone that was intercepted by Sisson. Adam Valentini then made a great play to hold the zone and gave a pass to Ashton Schultz below the icing line who found Sisson streaking to the slot where he fired a shot past Capitols netminder Ajay White.
Chicago nearly knotted the game at two with 5:45 left in the first when Sisson and Will Tomko got loose on a two-on-none, but Sisson's shot was stopped by White.
The home team scored a timely goal at the back end of the opening period on a flukey bounce when a pass ramped off a Steel stick and trickled towards the goal-mouth, where Cloutier attempted to get a cover but Sam Kappell got there first to shovel the puck in and make it a 3-1 Capitols lead.
Neither team found the back of the net in the middle frame, but both came close.
The Steel opened the period with a two-on-one chance but couldn't connect for the score.
Later in the frame, the Capitols found their second goal post of the night that denied a potential three-goal cushion.
Chicago went to the power play with just under seven minutes left in the second period, and Madison saw a shorthanded mini-breakaway opportunity that was denied with a great save by Cloutier.
The Steel had a Grade-A chance to get within one with just over one minute left when Erick Comstock had a backdoor look that forced White to slide to his right and make a strong stop.
The final frame of regulation stayed quiet for almost 15 minutes until the Steel once again cut the lead to one.
After winning a defensive zone faceoff, the Steel quickly cut up ice on the rush, featuring a perfectly lofted saucer pass through traffic from Ben Yurchuk that landed nicely for Dyer, who ripped a snipe from the right faceoff circle to make it a 3-2 game.
After a golden two-on-one opportunity for Chicago that ended in Will Tomko being denied by White, the Capitols put a halt to the hopeful Steel comeback when Bobby Cowan cashed in on the ensuing rush with his team-leading 12th goal of the season to give the Capitols another two-goal lead.
Chicago emptied its net and brought on an extra attacker with two minutes left and saw few chances before Aidan Shirey iced the game with an empty net goal.
The Steel will return home to host the Capitols on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 7:05 pm for NHL '94 Night presented by Rookies All-American Pub and Grill. The Steel will wear special jerseys modeled after the famous video game, and the jerseys will be available for auction online with proceeds benefiting the Cyclones Amateur Hockey Association.
All Steel tickets are digital, and fans are encouraged to purchase online in advance at ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.
For a limited time, fans can purchase the Steel Holiday Plan which includes one ticket to Chicago Blackhawks Night featuring Chris Chelios, two additional Steel games of your choice, and a ticket to one Chicago Blackhawks Game (either January 13 vs. Calgary or January 20 vs. Carolina). The package costs just $55.
Group tickets and experiences, suites and other premium areas, including the Coors Light Chill Zone and Ice Side Tables, are also on sale now.
For more information, call 855-51-STEEL.
Chicago Steel Upcoming Schedule presented by Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush:
Saturday, December 7 vs. Madison Capitols (7:05 pm CT) | NHL 94 Night presented by Rookies All American Pub and Grill | Special Jersey Auction Friday, December 13 vs. Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (7:05 pm CT) | Winter Wonderland | Lou Malnati's Family Pack Game Saturday, December 14 at Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (7:05 pm CT)
• Discuss this story on the United States Hockey League message board...
United States Hockey League Stories from December 6, 2024
- Stars Fall in First Game of Weekend at Fargo - Lincoln Stars
- Stampede Extend Streak in OT Thriller - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Saints Down Hawks in Overtime to Open Weekend - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Weekend Opener Ends in OT - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Steel Fall to Capitols in Madison - Chicago Steel
- White Stands Tall, Caps Win 5-2 - Madison Capitols
- Stars Open Weekend Road Trip in Fargo Tonight - Lincoln Stars
- Fighting Five: Saints Host Black Hawks on Teddy Bear Toss Night - Dubuque Fighting Saints
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
