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USHL Chicago Steel

Steel Roar Back to Top Cedar Rapids 3-2 in Overtime

December 19, 2021 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release


GENEVA, ILLINOIS - Down by one in the closing moments of regulation, the Chicago Steel (18-4-5-0; 41 pts) thrilled the home crowd, forcing overtime with a last-minute goal before defeating the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (11-11-1-0; 23 pts) 3-2 in overtime Saturday evening at Fox Valley Ice Arena.

In a low-scoring contest, the teams were tied 1-1 entering the final frame. Cedar Rapids took a 2-1 edge before Nick Moldenhauer picked up a rebound in front of the RoughRiders cage and buried it with just a minute and four seconds left in regulation.

Christian Manz made 27 stops between the Steel pipes and Andon Cerbone's fifth goal of the season was the overtime game-winner as Chicago became the first team in the USHL to break the 40-point mark in the standings.

Manz kicked off the game with a sensational blocker save on RoughRiders' Captain Adam Flammang, keeping the game scoreless until Flammang got another chance later in the period. Flammang scored the first goal of the game late in the first on an odd-man rush with Grant Ahcan. Carrying the puck down the left side of the RoughRiders zone, Ahcan waited for Manz to make his move then hit Flammang who tapped the puck home.

Steel rookie and Harvard University commit Mick Thompson initiated the first Chicago scoring play of the night, helping his club pull even with Cedar Rapids. After Dylan Robbins kicked the puck to him at the left half-boards, Thompson finessed the puck in the offensive zone, faked a pass in the left corner and whipped the puck to the slot for Michael Emerson who powered his way around a RoughRiders defender, picking the top right corner on Cedar Rapids netminder Connor Hasley.

Even though Manz made 27 saves, a critical stop in the second period came from Steel defenseman Luca Fantilli. After Manz stopped Cedar Rapids forward Jake Percival as the puck slid through the blue paint, Fantilli saved the puck from going in with his right skate while spawled in the crease, keeping the game knotted 1-1.

In the third period, RoughRiders forward Robert Flinton hit the post not once, but twice in the first four minutes of the third as Cedar Rapids peppered 12 total shots on net in the final frame.

Cedar Rapids finally cashed in on the power play on its sixth chance of the evening with under nine minutes to play in regulation. RoughRiders forward Conor Lovett received a stretch pass and dragged his way around the Steel defense, pulling off a beautiful back-handed goal to give Cedar Rapids a 2-1 advantage.

The RoughRiders were in control of the game until Manz was pulled for the extra attacker with just under two minutes to play.

With the 6-on-5 advantage, a shot from the point kicked out to Steel forward Jackson Blake. Blake, from the right side of the ice, threw the puck across the goal mouth to Nick Moldenhauer who buried the goal for his fifth in 11 games this season.

With 16 seconds remaining in regulation, Adam Fantilli drew an interference penalty leading the Steel to a power play heading into overtime.

The Steel fired multiple shots on RoughRiders goaltender Connor Hasley with the manadvantage but could not solve the netminder just yet. Shortly after the expired power play, Steel defenseman Jake Livanavage took advantage of the open ice with 4-on-4 action.

Livanavage caught Cedar Rapids in a change and powered through the middle of the ice from the defensive zone before crafting a nifty pass across to the left side of the ice to University of Michigan Commit Andon Cerbone streaking towards the net. Cerbone fired a high wrister glove side past Hasley, giving the Steel the overtime victory, the fifth straight game with at least a point in the standings for Chicago.

The Steel will enjoy their longest break in game action during the season, returning to home ice for a contest on Thursday, December 30 against the Madison Capitols at Fox Valley Ice Arena at 7:05 pm CT for a Steel Lunchbox Cooler Giveaway for the first 500 fans in attendance.

Tickets start at just $10 and are available in person at the Steel Box Office at Fox Valley Ice Arena, by phone at 855-51-STEEL and online at chicagosteelhockeyteam.com. The Steel now offer single-game ticket discounts for kids 12 and under and military.

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

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

Thursday, December 30 vs. Madison Capitols (6:05 pm CT) GIVEAWAY - Steel Lunchbox Cooler Giveaway (first 500 fans)

Sunday, January 2 vs. Madison Capitols (3:05 pm CT) Family Pack Game

Friday, January 14 vs. Youngstown Phantoms (7:05 pm CT) Olympics Night

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