USHL Chicago Steel

Steel Fall to Gamblers in Shootout Friday

Published on February 24, 2018 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release


GENEVA, ILLINOIS - Despite Jack Dugan tying the game with 70 seconds remaining, the Chicago Steel (19-18-1-4, 43 pts.) fell 3-2 to the Green Bay Gamblers via shootout Friday night at Fox Valley Ice Arena. Brock Caufield tallied the winner for the Gamblers (21-16-3-1, 46 pts.), scoring the lone shootout goal while netminder Jake Begley denied all three Steel attempts.

Gamblers defenseman Michael Underwood opened the scoring 4:22 into the game, firing a shot from the right point for his first career USHL goal.

Tyler Gratton tied the game for the Steel just under nine minutes later. The Penn State commit skated in on the left wing and roofed a shot from the top of the circle, beating Green Bay goaltender Maksim Zhukov far side, over the glove at 13:21. The game remained tied, 1-1, at the first intermission with the Steel outshooting the visitors, 12-5.

Nolan Moyle regained the lead for Green Bay midway through the second period, swatting a bouncing puck in the slot past Steel netminder Justin Robbins, tying Trenton Bliss for the Green Bay lead with 15 goals apiece this season.

Moments later, Zhukov, a Vegas Golden Knights prospect, was assessed a match penalty for attempt to injure at the 12:21 mark of the second period after he skated behind his net and attacked Steel forward Aaro Vidgren following a slashing call. The penalty ended Zhukov's night and brought Begley in to finish the game between the pipes for the Gamblers.

Chicago pulled Robbins in the final two minutes of regulation to send an extra attacker out in hopes of tying the game. The risk paid off during a wild flurry, as Dugan sent a backhand shot through traffic to tie the game with 1:10 remaining, forcing overtime. With the game-tying tally, Dugan became the first Steel player to hit the 20-goal mark this season.

Robbins made a terrific glove stop on a Moyle breakaway attempt in the first minute of overtime, and later, Dugan fired a shot off the right post at the other end, as the game remained undecided after 65 minutes of play.

In the three-round shootout, Caufield scored high, glove side in the second round, banking it home off the cross-bar. Begley denied Chicago's Dugan, Samuel Bucek and Robert Mastrosimone to seal the victory for the visitors.

Each team went 0-for-4 on the power play. Chicago outshot Green Bay 40-22. The Steel dropped to 0-4 in shootouts this season, including two losses to the Gamblers.

The Steel close the weekend with a Steel Family Sunday on Feb. 25, hosting the Central Illinois Flying Aces at 3:05 p.m. on Rusty's Birthday, featuring a mascot hockey game. The Steel Family Pack is available - purchase four tickets, four hot dogs, four sodas (or waters) and four chuck-a-pucks starting at just $48. The package must be purchased in advance and is not available on the day of the game. Fans are invited to stick around after the game for full-team post-game autographs. 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.

Check out the Chicago Steel Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



United States Hockey League Stories from February 24, 2018


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.

OurSports Central