Steel Hang on to Beat Youngstown 5-4
December 12, 2020 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release
GENEVA, ILLINOIS - The Chicago Steel (8-2-0-0; 16 pts.) withstood a furious 3rd Period comeback attempt from the Youngstown Phantoms (2-5-0-0; 4 pts.) to win 5-4 Friday night at Fox Valley Ice Arena.
The Steel jumped out to a 4-0 lead early in the second period but Youngstown scored four of the last five goals before time expired.
USHL points leader Matt Coronato registered his fifth performance with at least three points, registering a goal and two assists. The Harvard University commit extended his season-opening point streak (10G, 14A) to a career-long 10 games in the win.
As the Steel began their bid for a sixth straight win, their offense looked to be locked in early.
After a scoreless first five minutes, three goals in under two minutes gave the Steel a 3-0 lead in the blink of an eye.
The barrage began with Josh Doan who buried his third goal in as many games. The Arizona State University commit wired a wrister from the high slot on the first Steel power play of the night, solidifying 10 straight games for Chicago with a power-play goal.
On the next shift, Luke Levandowski tallied his first goal in the USHL, putting the Steel up by two. The 6-foot, 160-pound forward took a long pass from Colton Huard on the left side of the Steel offensive zone and made a power move going forehand-backhand to beat Youngstown netminder Kyle Chauvette.
Steel forward Jackson Blake completed the three-goal run when made a hairpin turn in the right circle, letting go a wrist shot that b eat Chauvette's glove side to extend the Steel lead to 3-0.
After the goal, the Phantoms took their timeout and inserted Mattias Sholl in place of Chauvette.
Youngstown had a trio of opportunities in the middle of the opening frame but three quick shots in an offensive zone sequence were turned away by Steel netminder Ian Shane.
The Steel got right back on the scoreboard as quick as the middle frame began.
Chicago captain Erik Middendorf raced up the ice in stride with Coronato to his right as Coronato fed Middendorf the puck after gaining the offensive zone. Middendorf slid the puck past Sholl to grab a 4-0 Steel lead just 31 seconds into the second period.
Chicago seemed to have momentum on its side for the night but Youngstown's Georgii Merkulov gave the visitors a jolt.
The Phantoms forward from Ryazan, Russia tallied a pair of goals for Youngstown, cutting the deficit to 4-2 early in the third period.
Coronato tried his best to take over the game, tallying his 10th goal of the season after Merkulov's second marker. A long rebound from a Sean Farrell shot on a power play bounced right to Coronato in the left circle as he let a quick release go to push the lead to 5-2 Steel with just over 12 minutes to play.
In a wild sequence just minutes later, Coronato was denied his second goal of the game.
As he flew down the right side on an offensive rush, Coronato's shot rang off what appeared to be two posts. Play continued and Will Hillman reached the back of the net for Youngstown to cut the lead back down to two for Chicago.
Upon video review, it was Sholl who got his stick on the ricochet, keeping the puck out of the net.
Hillman's goal was upheld and the Phantoms were immediately back in the game with close to eight minutes to play.
Although he didn't see many shots through the first two periods of action, Shane made a key save with six minutes to play. Phantom forward Ben Schoen, who entered play with four points (3G, 1A) in two games this season, had a clear lane to the net but Shane soaked up his shot with the midsection, refusing to allow a rebound.
Shane was tested again two minutes later as Bayard Hall scored Youngstown's fourth goal of the night, pulling to within just one goal for the first time since the early first period.
On the ensuing shift, the Steel held puck possession in their offensive zone for a solid minute, and as the clock wound down, Sholl was pulled for an extra attacker but Chicago held off the final Phantoms push of the night.
Shane made 15 saves as Chicago held their opponent to just 19 shots, the lowest total allowed by the Steel this season.
Youngstown and Chicago close out their three-game series Saturday night with another 7:05 pm puck drop at Fox Valley Ice Arena before the Steel head to Michigan next weekend.
Chicago squares off against the Muskegon Lumberjacks in back-to-back contests on Fri., Dec.
18 and Sat., Dec. 19, both games scheduled for a 6:00 pm CT start time.
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, December 12 vs Youngstown Phantoms (7:05 pm CT)
Friday, December 18 @ Muskegon Lumberjacks (6:00 pm CT)
Saturday, December 19 @ Muskegon Lumberjacks (6:00 pm CT)
For more information, call 855-51-STEEL or visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.
United States Hockey League Stories from December 12, 2020
- Herd Falls 3-2 in Overtime on Military Night - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Muskegon Scores Late, Edges Dubuque 5-4 - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Hawks Fall Despite Special Teams - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Stein to Edmonton for Christmas - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Musketeers Blank Des Moines, Earn First Road Win - Sioux City Musketeers
- Steel Hang on to Beat Youngstown 5-4 - Chicago Steel
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