Steel Get to Overtime But Fall 5-4 to Muskegon
Published on December 19, 2020 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release
MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN - The Chicago Steel (10-2-1-0; 21 pts.) suffered a 5-4 overtime loss at the hands of the Muskegon Lumberjacks (7-4-1-0; 15 pts.) in the weekend finale at Mercy Health Arena in Michigan on Saturday night.
Lumberjacks forward Bradley Marek tallied the game-tying goal with less than a minute in regulation, then sealed the game for Muskegon with a breakaway goal late in overtime.
Four of Chicago's top goal scorers recorded markers in the loss and Ian Shane made 18 stops through regulation and overtime.
Erik Middendorf tallied a goal and an assist while Matt Coronato added two helpers as both skaters extended their season-opening point streaks to 13 games.
Shane set a defensive tone early with two critical saves between the Steel pipes shortly after puck drop in Muskegon.
The first big stop came on Rhett Pitlick as the Lumberjack forward had a chance on the Chicago doorstep, trying to gather a puck and turn to release a shot on net. Shane sprawled to his right making a headfirst diving stop to preserve the 0-0 score in the opening minutes of the game.
The netminder from Manhattan Beach, Calif., came up big once again on the first Steel power play of the night. On a shorthanded chance, Cameron Berg got to the front of the net and tried to wire a shot to Shane's glove side but Shane beat Berg to the post.
The Lumberjacks capitalized for their first goal of the night thanks to a miscue in the Chicago defensive zone. Steel blueliner Ian Moore collided with Shane in the crease which left an open net for Christophe Tellier to tuck home his fifth of the season putting the home team in front midway through the opening frame.
Sean Farrell answered the call for the Steel as he picked up a rebound on a shot from Luca Fantilli from the right side of the Steel offensive zone. Farrell, on the left side of the crease, made a 180 degree turn and fired the puck past a diving Jan Skorpik.
The playoff-type intensity reached a physical peak late in the first period when Steel captain Erik Middendorf and Lumberjacks defenseman John Druskinis dropped the gloves behind the Muskegon net. Both skaters served their 15 penalty minutes before returning to action in the middle frame.
Chicago jumped in front for the first time in the game just short of the midway point in the second period.
Joe Miller, who tallied his first career goal in the Friday night win, fired home a rebound off the end boards after a shot from Adam Fantilli went wide of the net. Miller followed the puck and picked up his second marker in as many nights.
The Lumberjacks fought their way back to tie the game with a goal on a redirection from Muskegon captain Dylan Wendt. The forward was positioned in front of the net as he got his stick on a shot from Davis Pennington, a deflection that Shane never saw.
Just before the end of the second period, Jack Babbage initiated a play from his defensive position that led to the third Steel goal of the night. The blueliner from Tully, N.Y., worked his way down the right side of the offensive zone with a power move towards the front of the net.
Babbage was taken down but Matt Coronato fed the puck to Middendorf in front of the crease for his 10th goal of the season.
Muskegon kicked off the third- period scoring with Thomas Sinclair's first career USHL goal. Lumberjacks forward Ben Strinden used speed to gain the right side of the offensive zone and threw a pass across ice to Sinclair who one-timed the feed past Shane to tie the game at 3-3.
In what looked like more late-game heroics in the weekend series for Chicago, Steel alternate captain Adam Robbins pounced on a beautiful set up from Coronato, the USHL's leader in points. Coronato powered past two Lumberjack defenders making his way behind the net but leaving a pass for Robbins with an empty cage.
Chicago led 4-3 with just 2:51 remaining but could not close out the Lumberjacks.
On a power play in the final minute of the game, newly-acquired Bradley Marek scored for Muskegon to tie the game.
The clubs headed to overtime, a fitting end to a two-game series that only saw one two-goal advantage in the entire 125-minute, two-game stretch.
Both teams had golden chances in the extra frame but were held off the scoreboard.
Muskegon's leading scorer, Danil Gushchin, led an odd-man rush but an excellent backcheck from Josh Doan prevented a shot on net. Doan lifted Gushchin's stick to clear the Steel zone of any danger as Gushchin glided towards Shane's crease.
Chicago's chances came from defenseman Ryan Ufko with 50 seconds left in overtime. The blueliner twice rang shots off the post but could not find the back of the net.
With 40 seconds left, Marek played hero for his new club once again. The former Youngstown Phantom was sprung on a breakaway and beat Shane stick side with a low wrist shot to win the game for Muskegon.
With the overtime loss, the Steel earned three of a possible four points on the weekend to hold on to first place in the Eastern Conference with a 10-2-1-0 mark (21 pts.) and points in 11 of their first 13 contests to begin the season.
The Steel could not score on four chances on the power play, snapping a streak of 12 consecutive games with a marker on the man advantage to open the year.
The Steel are scheduled to return to action on Saturday, Jan. 2. Chicago hosts the Green Bay Gamblers at Fox Valley Ice Arena with a 7:05 pm CT start time then travels to Iowa the next day for a 3:05 pm CT puck drop against the Dubuque Fighting Saints.
Chicago 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). Chicago Steel Upcoming Games: Saturday, January 2 vs Green Bay Gamblers (7:05 pm CT) Sunday, January 3 @ Dubuque Fighting Saints (3:05 pm CT) Friday, January 8 @ Team USA (U17) (6:05 pm CT)
For more information, call 855-51-STEEL or visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.
United States Hockey League Stories from December 19, 2020
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