Sports stats



USHL Chicago Steel

Steel Score Three Goals in Final Minutes; Fall 6-5 in Overtime against Madison

April 2, 2022 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release


MIDDLETON, WISCONSIN - Facing their first regulation loss on the road since Feb. 11, the Chicago Steel (34-12-8-1; 77 pts.) staged an improbable comeback, scoring three goals in the closing minutes of regulation, including two markers from Joe Miller with 17 seconds left and four seconds left in the third, before falling 6-5 in overtime against the Madison Capitols (27-27- 2-0; 56 pts.) Saturday night at Bob Suter's Capitol Ice Arena in Wisconsin.

The Capitols struck for four consecutive goals through the second and third periods to take a 5- 2 edge into the final minutes of the third before the furious Chicago comeback to force overtime. In addition to Miller's pair of tallies, Andon Cerbone, Sam Lipkin and Jackson Blake each netted goals for the Steel.

After a four-goal first period in the previous night's matchup, Chicago's single marker in the first period of Saturday night's showdown seemed tame but gave the Steel a lead after the opening 20 minutes of play.

Both teams were kept to the outside for the majority of the start before the Steel broke the scoreless tie.

Steel co-captain Sam Lipkin began the scoring play after absorbing contact in the neutral zone, keeping enough control to get the puck to Jayden Perron who entered the offensive zone on the right wing. Perron put a shot on net that was stopped by Capitols netminder Simon Latkocy but Andon Cerbone was in the right spot at the right time, cleaning up the loose puck on the rebound.

After being turned away on its first man advantage opportunity, Madison's special teams turned the tide in the middle frame when Kyle Kukkonen hammered home a one-time feed from Luke Mittelstadt to tie the game 1-1.

The Steel answered with the top three point-getters on the roster entering Saturday's showdown.

Adam Fantilli initiated an offensive rush as he found Joe Miller with speed through the neutral zone and into the Steel zone. Miller drew Latkoczy to the left side of the net before finding Jackson Blake on a beautiful backhand feed, leaving plenty of space for Blake to find the net for his 23rd of the season.

Just over a minute later, Madison went back on the man advantage and capitalized once again, this time matching the score at 2-2.

Moving the puck with purpose, the Capitols rotated possession around the offensive zone before Jake Dunlap spun a backhander past Homer to pull the Capitols even once more.

Reid Pabich took the lead for Madison late in the second, just over a minute after Dunlap's tying goal.

This time at even strength, Pabich played the trailer as he took a feed from Dunlap and put another backhander to the back of the net for the Capitols.

With a quick back-to-back strike of goals, Tyler Haskins and Quinn Finley ballooned the Capitols lead to 5-2 midway through the third.

Looking square at the end of a three-game win streak, the Steel comeback was kicked off by Lipkin with just over three minutes remaining in regulation. Adam Fantilli circled the offensive zone on a power play, drawing attention away from Lipkin who slipped to the right post. Fantilli threaded a pass in front where Lipkin tapped home the third goal of the night for Chicago, taking the deficit down to 5-3.

The drama reached a breaking point in the final minute with the Chicago net empty as six skaters took the offensive zone for the Steel.

Jackson Blake slipped a cross-crease pass from left to right to Joe Miller who connected on a one-timer to pull the Steel within one with 17 seconds remaining.

On the ensuing shift with Steel goaltender Gibson Homer racing to the bench for the extra attacker, Jake Livanavage kept a puck in the zone and trickled the puck to the net where Miller found an opening just four seconds before the buzzer, tying the game and stealing a point in the standings for Chicago.

In overtime, Madison capitalized on a three-on-two rush with Luke Mittelstadt sealing the 6-5 overtime win for Madison with a goal 52 seconds into overtime off a cross-ice feed from Kukkonen.

Saturday's game finished the 10-game regular-season series between Madison and Chicago with the Steel earning a 6-2-2-0 edge in that stretch.

The next chance for Steel fans to see the team on home ice is on Friday, April 8 for Pucks and Pups! Bring Your Dog to the Game presented by PetSuites and Saturday, April 9 for Board Game Night presented by TopShelf Sports Cards and a Rusty Chess Piece Giveaway for the first 500 fans. Following Saturday's game, fans are invited to join in a postgame skate.

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:

Friday, April 8 vs. Green Bay Gamblers (7:05 pm CT) Pucks and Pups - Bring Your Dog to the Game! presented by PetSuites

Saturday, April 9 vs. Green Bay Gamblers (7:05 pm CT) Board Game Night presented by TopShelf Sports Cards | GIVEAWAY - Rusty Chess Piece courtesy of 95.9 The River | Post-game skate

Friday, April 22 vs. Muskegon Lumberjacks (7:05 pm CT) Fan Appreciation Night presented by Smithfield

Check out the Chicago Steel Statistics



United States Hockey League Stories from April 2, 2022


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central