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USHL Chicago Steel

Steel Score Five in Third to Pull Away in 7-4 Win

March 4, 2022 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release


GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - Following turbulent first and second periods, the Chicago Steel (27-10-7-1; 62 pts.) totaled five third period goals to separate from the Green Bay Gamblers (19-22-2-1; 41 pts.) and earn a 7-4 victory at Resch Center in Wisconsin Friday night.

Trailing 3-2 heading into the third, Jack Harvey scored twice before Adam Fantilli notched back- to-back shorthanded goals separated by just over two minutes of game action to help extend the current Steel point streak to six games.

Chicago netminder Christian Manz made 36 saves, one shy of his season-best, including a 19- save opening frame to improve his rookie record to 8-3-0-1.

The Steel jumped on the Gamblers with their first offensive chance of the game less than :30 in, a beautiful passing play between Joe Miller, Adam Fantilli and Jackson Blake. Winding through the offensive zone, Miller dropped a pass to Adam Fantilli who brought the puck to the right wing boards. Drawing attention, Fantilli fired a pass to Blake in the middle of the slot as Blake corralled the puck and flung a wrister past Gamblers goaltender Aaron Randazzo.

After the initial surge from Chicago, the Gamblers took over the majority of chances in the first period.

Soaring to a 20-9 edge in shots on goal, Green Bay drew even on the only power play of the opening frame. After a tic-tac-toe passing play from Brody Lamb to Alex Servagno, Servagno was turned aside by Manz only to have the rebound bounce to Kent Anderson, alone in the right circle. Anderson's quick shot was enough to beat Manz to the right post, tying the game at 1-1.

The Gamblers continued the barrage of chances, met at every turn by Manz for the remainder of the period.

Moldenhauer and Steel defenseman Luca Fantilli connected late in the period to turn the tide back in favor of the visitors. Fantilli took a few strides from right to left and threw a puck on net where Moldenhauer and Chris Delaney provided screens in front of Randazzo. Moldenhauer tipped the puck when it was a foot off the ice, changing direction to bounce to the back of the net.

The hockey gods favored the home team in the second period with two fortunate bounces, aiding Green Bay to a 3-2 advantage.

Early in the period, Adam Fantilli was interfered with in the Steel offensive zone, drawing a delayed call on Green Bay. Before the Gamblers could touch the puck, a miscommunication by the Steel led to a pass to the point that didn't connect and rolled all the way into the empty Steel cage with Manz pulled for the extra attacker.

On the second fortunate bounce of the frame, a Steel attempt to clear the puck from the front of the net was directed to Ryan Greene on the left side of the cage. Greene fired the puck past Manz for his 16th goal of the season, the second Green Bay power play goal of the night in as many chances.

Chicago stormed back early in the third with Harvey's first goal of the night. Working a give-an- go with Moldenhauer a minute into the period, Harvey drifted to the inside of the left circle where Moldenhauer fed a perfect pass for Harvey's one-timer, pulling the Steel even at 3-3.

Gamblers captain Jarod Crespo wrestled momentum back for the home team just shy of the midway point of the final frame, finishing a backhanded flip after a 2-on-1 rush with Matt DeBoer. It was Crespo's seventh goal of the season, giving Green Bay a short-lived celebration before Harvey responded on the very next shift.

Chicago rookie forward Chris Delaney picked off an errant Gamblers pass below the goal line of the Steel offensive zone, flipping a pass to Harvey in front of the crease. Harvey one-touched the puck home to give Chicago a 4-3 edge with his second goal of the night and 17th of the season.

After surrendering goals on the first two G amblers power plays of the game, Chicago's penalty kill proved crucial in the late stages of the third.

After a corner battle won by Chicago in the defensive zone, Joe Miller found a streaking Adam Fantilli for a shorthanded breakaway as Fantilli tucked his shot past the right pad of Randazzo, off the left post and in.

On a subsequent penalty kill just over two minutes later, the Miller to Fantilli combination struck again as Miller tossed a feed to Fantilli on an odd-man rush with Fantilli hammering home his USHL-leading 29th goal of the year.

With the marker, Fantilli jumped Gunnarwolfe Fontaine (Steel 2018-2020) and Andrew Miller (2007-2009) into a tie for second on the Steel all-time goals list with Robert Mastrosimone (Steel 2017-2019) (47G).

Moldenhauer sealed the victory with his second career multi-goal game, getting his stick on a pass that went the length of the ice into the empty net in the closing moments of the game, securing a 7-4 win for Chicago.

The Steel host the Gamblers for the Teddy Bear Toss on Saturday, March 5 at Fox Valley Ice Arena presented by Geneva Family Dental at 7:05 pm CT. Fans are encouraged to bring new, unwrapped stuffed animals to toss onto the ice after the first Steel goal. Following the game, the stuffed animals will be donated to local charities including Salvation Army Tri-City Corps and Rush Copley Medical Center in Aurora. Fans are invited to take part in the final postgame skate of the season after the game with skate rentals available for $4 if they are unable to bring their own skates.

Steel single-game 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 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:

Saturday, March 5 vs. Green Bay (7:05 pm CT) Teddy Bear Toss presented by Geneva Family Dental | Postgame Skate

Friday, March 11 vs. Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (7:05 pm CT) Meme Night presented by Meyer Signs and Graphics

Saturday, March 12 vs. Madison Capitols (7:05 pm CT) Ferris Bueller's Day at a Steel Game Presented by Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush | GIVEAWAY - Rusty 'Save Ferris' Bobblehead (First 500 fans)

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United States Hockey League Stories from March 4, 2022


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