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USHL Chicago Steel

Steel Keep Point Streak Alive; Fall 6-5 in Overtime

October 15, 2021 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release


MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN - Despite an inspired offensive performance by the Muskegon Lumberjacks (1-2-1-1; 4 pts.) playing in front of their home crowd for the first time this season, the Chicago Steel (5-0-2-0; 12 pts.) managed to go toe-to-toe for 60 minutes before suffering a 6-5 overtime loss on Friday at Mercy Health Arena in Michigan.

The back-and-forth slugfest included five lead changes including the overtime winner from Quinn Hutson for Muskegon. Lumberjacks forward Joey Larson netted his first career USHL hat trick for a Muskegon team that registered 52 shots on net, the most against a Steel team since April 11, 2015 (a 4-3 loss at Cedar Rapids).

Jack Harvey scored twice for the Steel while Zam Planted picked up his first USHL goal.

Jackson Blake and Sam Lipkin added markers and Gibson Homer turned away 46 shots between the Steel pipes, a career-high, including several key saves as Chicago killed off a double minor penalty late in regulation.

Blake made a quick impression on the scoresheet to kick off the game, working a give-and-go with Adam Fantilli just 48 seconds into the action. Blake took a pass from near point-blank range, one-touching the puck past Muskegon netminder Jan Skorpik to give Chicago a 1-0 edge in the early going.

Lumberjacks forward Joey Larson scored his first goal of the game after Jack Williams filtered a pass from the right wing boards to the center of the ice. Larson guided the puck home, evening the score at 1-1 less than a minute after Blake's game-opening tally.

The second Muskegon goal of the game came with controversy as Homer was pinned away from the Chicago crease, leaving an empty cage for Jacob Guevin. The defenseman ripped a wrister and while the Steel claimed the play should have been blown dead, the goal was confirmed after a brief video review, putting the Lumberjacks in front by one.

The potent Steel attack prevented a first intermission deficit as Harvey netted his third goal of the year thanks to pressure initiated by Adam Fantilli. After Fantilli carried the puck through the neutral zone and put a shot on net, Harvey scraped the loose puck into a tight window past the blocker of Skorpik.

The frantic pace continued in the middle frame as the Steel jumped in front on Zam Plante's first USHL tally. Forward Michael Emerson contributed with a burst of speed to chase down the puck in the Steel offensive zone, centering a pass from the right faceoff dot. Plante flipped a backhander past Skorpik, putting Chicago in front 3-2.

Muskegon's Quinn Hutson got on the board with the first of two goals, a power play tally just over a minute after Plante's goal.

Midway through the second, Sam Lipkin took advantage of a power play, netting a wrister from the right circle after cross-ice passes from Anthony Dowd and Andon Cerbone.

Homer put together an important sequence of saves just before the end of the middle frame, keeping Muskegon off the board on their second power play chance of the night. With sustained offensive zone possession, the Lumberjacks peppered the Steel netminder before Chicago was able to get back to full strength and finish the period with a 4-3 advantage.

For the second time in the game, the Steel scored less than a minute into a period as Harvey powered home his second goal of the night. Adam Fantilli once again wove his way through the Lumberjacks defense, dishing a puck to Blake who put a shot off the left post, bouncing directly to Harvey who beat Skorpik to extend the lead to 5-3 in favor of the visitors just 27 seconds into the frame.

That was the final goal for Chicago as Joey Larson completed his hat trick in short order, bringing the Lumberjacks back to life in regulation. Just 30 seconds after Harvey's tally, Larson responded, then later picked up his third goal of the night with 13 minutes to play in the third to tie the game at 5-5.

With all the momentum, Muskegon earned a four-minute power play to close out regulation but the Steel penalty kill stood tall. Coming into the night's action ranked second in the USHL while shorthanded, Chicago fought off the Lumberjacks attack to earn a point in the standings for the seventh consecutive game to open the 2021-2022 campaign.

Less than a minute into the extra frame, Quinn Hutson ended the game in favor of Muskegon, sealing a 6-5 victory and giving the Lumberjacks their first win of the season.

The Steel and Lumberjacks rematch on Saturday, Oct. 16 with a 6:10 pm CT puck drop.

Chicago's next home game is Saturday October 23 for "19 Promotions We Missed in 2020" and the first Family Pack Game of the season, a special ticket offer that includes four tickets, four hot dogs, four chips, four sodas/waters and four chuck-a-pucks for just $50.

Steel games can 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).

For more information, call 855-51-STEEL or visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.

Chicago Steel Upcoming Home Games presented by Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush:

Saturday, October 23 vs. Dubuque Fighting Saints (7:05 pm CT) 19 Promotions We Missed in 2020 | Family Pack Game

Friday, November 5 vs. Green Bay Gamblers (7:05 pm CT) Hockey Is For Everyone

Saturday, November 6 vs. Dubuque Fighting Saints (7:05 pm CT) Top Gun Night | GIVEAWAY - Steel Aviator Sunglasses (First 500 fans)

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