USHL Chicago Steel

Steel Ghosted by Phantoms 4-2 Sunday

Published on March 4, 2018 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release


GENEVA, ILLINOIS - Chicago Blackhawks prospect Wouter Peeters backstopped a 39-save performance, and Illinois natives Matthew Barry (Naperville), Joey Abate (Bloomingdale) and Nicholas Cardelli (Wood Dale) lit the lamp for the Phantoms as Youngstown defeated Chicago 4-2 Sunday afternoon at Fox Valley Ice Arena. The Steel outshot the Phantoms 41-23.

Youngstown led nearly the entire way as Barry deposited a wraparound past Steel netminder Oskar Autio's right leg just 2:11 into the game. The lead doubled after Abate jammed in a loose puck at 7:44 after Steel goalie Oskar Autio made the initial stop on a point shot, but the puck trickled behind Autio and Abate crashed the net to cash in on the opportunity.

Later in the first period, Steel forward Aaro Vidgren cut Youngstown's lead in half. Just inside the Phantoms' zone, Erik Urbank received a drop pass from Eric Otto and sent a wrist shot toward the net. Peeters made the stop with the right pad, but Vidgren was there to fire home the rebound past the goaltender's blocker.

In the second period, Youngstown's Mike Regush scored the eventual game winner, collecting a rebound of Michael Callahan's slap shot and using a forehand-backhand move to beat Autio on the blocker side at 9:34.

The teams exchanged a pair of power-play goals in the third period. First, Steel defenseman Brian Hurley cut the Youngstown lead to one with a wrist shot from the right point that deflected off a Phantom player and through Peeters' legs at 3:15. Then, at 9:30, Cardelli's wrist shot found its way over Autio's blocker.

Autio was pulled in favor of an extra attacker with 2:04 remaining but Chicago was unable to climb back from the two-goal deficit.

The Steel (21-20-1-4, 47 pts.) dropped to 0-2-1-1 this season against Youngstown (25-18-4-1, 55 pts.). Chicago finished 1-for-7 on the power play and 4-for-5 on the penalty kill.

The Steel play their next three games on the road including a Western Conference swing this Friday and Saturday at the Omaha Lancers and Sioux Falls Stampede. Steel games are carried live on Mixlr (free audio) and HockeyTV (iPPV). For more information, visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com/broadcast.

Chicago's next home games are Saturday, March 17, and Sunday, March 18 - a weekend set against the Tri-City Storm. March 17 features a Salute to Heroes, and March 18 includes a Rusty Bobblehead Giveaway presented by Waubonsee Community College for the first 500 fans in attendance. The Steel Family Sunday game also features the Steel Family Pack offer - purchase four tickets, four hot dogs, four sodas (or waters) and four chuck-a-pucks starting at just $48. 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.

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United States Hockey League Stories from March 4, 2018


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