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USHL Chicago Steel

Steel Outlast Gamblers in Overtime Battle

February 4, 2024 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release


GENEVA, IL - After early tallies by each club, a scoring lull that lasted almost 40 minutes was broken with an exchange of goals in the third period including the tying goal from Green Bay with only 22 seconds in regulation, but Michael Hage scored in overtime to lift the Chicago Steel (16-18-3-2, 37 pts.) to a 3-2 win over the Green Bay Gamblers (22-9-4-2, 50 pts.) at Fox Valley Ice Arena Sunday afternoon.

Jordan Brisson was the lone Chicago goal scorer until the third period, getting his eighth of the season late in the opening frame, and Charlie Major notched his 17th score of the season in the third period. Michael Hage ended the game with his team-leading 19th goal at 1:48 of overtime to give the Steel their fifth win in eight games.

Steel netminder Louka Cloutier made 17 saves to record his ninth win of the season. Green Bay pushed the tempo early in the game and had an excellent look when a rebound fell to the stick of Charlie Russell, but Cloutier tracked the shot and made a superb glove save while falling to his left.

Chicago echoed the Grade A chance with one of its own after a sneaky turnaround shot from Anthony Cardilli deflected off the post.

The Steel broke through later in the frame following a great find by Owen Tylec, who hit Hunter Hady in stride as he skated into Green Bay's zone.

Hady drew in a defender and, using his lengthy frame, passed the puck around a converging Gambler to Brisson, who dragged and quickly released a beautiful snapshot in close that beat Gamblers goaltender Adam Gajan blocker side to open the scoring.

The Gamblers wasted little time in drawing the game even.

After going shorthanded, Green Bay created a turnover in its own end and went on a two-onone rush. William Hughes carried in on the left wing and put a laser over the left shoulder of Cloutier for a shorthanded goal that tied the game at one.

It was the seventh shorthanded goal allowed by the Steel this season, the most in the USHL. Chicago went 0-for-2 on the power play in the opening 20 minutes.

The Steel went on the attack quickly to start the second period, but the Gamblers stole the puck and created an odd-man rush the other way.

With numbers and space, Jayson Shaugabay skated in and sent a pass to his right to an open Ryan Humphrey, who wound and released a wicked one-timer, but Cloutier stuck his blocker out to stop the blistering shot and cover the rebound.

Green Bay had a great chance later in the period immediately after their third penalty kill of the contest.

As Michael DeAngelo left the penalty box, the puck found him in front of Green Bay's bench, allowing a half-breakaway from the left wing.

DeAngelo skated to the crease and tried to tuck the puck five hole, but Cloutier sealed his pads to keep the puck out and keep the game tied.

The middle frame was a mostly defensive affair, with a combined nine shots between the two teams. Three Steel shots in the second period matched a season-low for number of shots in a single period.

A penalty in the final seconds of the second period gave the Gamblers a power play to start the third. The Steel managed a shorthanded chance of their own, as Charlie Major skated through the Green Bay power play unit on a breakaway, but Gajan made a ten-bell save to keep the score knotted.

It took 37 minutes after getting their first goal and 34:50 since the game's last goal, but Chicago finally broke through and moved ahead in the middle of the third period.

Mick Thompson split the middle of the offensive zone and sauced a pass to Major who shot through the legs of Gajan to put Chicago ahead 2-1.

The goal had all the looks of a game-winner, but the Gamblers got an extra attacker on with two minutes left and Jayson Shaugabay scored the tying goal with only 22 seconds left to send the game to overtime.

Green Bay started the extra frame with possession, but the Steel eventually got their chance. Just under two minutes into OT, Hage worked around a defender on the left wing and made an incredible move, working from his backhand to the forehand and lifting a shot over Gajan's left shoulder to give the Steel a 3-2 overtime win.

It was Hage's second OT GWG this season and capped off a three-point weekend for the Steel against three of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.

The Steel will host Women in Sports Night on Friday, Feb. 9, at 7:05 pm, with a pregame panel of successful women in the Chicago sports industry.

Single game tickets are on sale now starting at just $10. All Steel tickets are digital and fans are encouraged to purchase online in advance at ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com. For more information, call 855-51-STEEL or visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.

Chicago Steel Upcoming Schedule presented by Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush:

Friday, February 9 vs. Madison Capitols (7:05 pm CT) | Women in Sports Night | Pregame Panel

Saturday, February 10 at Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (7:05 pm CT)

Friday, February 16 vs. Tri-City Storm (7:05 pm CT) | Chicago Blackhawks Night featuring Tommy Hawk

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