Steel Snap Skid with 3-2 Shootout Win over Cedar Rapids
January 29, 2022 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release
CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA - The Chicago Steel (21-8-6-0; 48 pts.) put an end to their four-game losing skid with a heart-stopping 3-2 shootout victory against the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (14-17-1-1; 30 pts.) at ImOn Ice Arena in Iowa on Saturday night.
Steel forward Jack Harvey led the way with both regulation goals for Chicago, his third two-goal outing of the season, as netminder Gibson Homer came up with 27 saves including six consecutive stops in the shootout to seal the first Steel win since Jan. 7.
Harvey wasted no time breaking the scoreless tie with his 11th marker of the season just 19 seconds into the contest. Harvey won an offensive zone faceoff before taking contact and following the puck into the left corner where Jackson Blake won the loose puck and sent it to Nick Moldenhauer. Moldenhauer gathered the puck and fed Harvey who made a move to his backhand while crossing in front of RoughRiders netminder Bruno Bruveris, netting the first goal of the game.
RoughRiders forward Yusako Ando answered for the home team just over a minute later with his second goal of the season on ensuing offensive zone pressure from Cedar Rapids.
With the game tied 1-1 just over a minute and a half into the contest, all signs pointed to a high- scoring affair but Bruveris and Homer had other ideas, putting on a display throughout the remainder of the night.
The Steel controlled possession for the majority of the middle frame, although were credited with just eight shots in the second.
Bruveris had an answer for everything thrown his way until a fortunate bounce helped Chicago take the lead back.
On a neutral zone turnover forced by Steel forward Jackson Blake, Harvey carried the puck into the right side of the offensive zone, making a move to the net and popping a shot up high on Bruveris who initially looked to make the stop. The puck bounced on the netminders pads and was bumped into the back of the net after contact from his own player, giving the Steel a 2-1 edge on Harvey's second goal of the game and 12th of the year.
Cedar Rapids, entering Saturday's game with an 11-4-0-0 record on home ice this season, fought back with pressure through the third period.
In a span of just a few moments on the same shift in the middle of the third, Chicago was forced to come up with timely defensive plays starting with a stop from Homer on Ando, then a blocked shot from defenseman Jake Livanavage, and finally a save from Homer on a bouncing puck that forced a faceoff.
Just a few minutes later, Homer fell victim to a misplayed puck behind the net as Cedar Rapids captain Adam Flammang cashed in with an easy tap-in goal on the doorstep to tie the game with just over nine minutes to play in regulation.
Another crucial defensive play was made by the Steel, this time on a Chicago power play late in the third. A deflected puck sent the RoughRiders on a shorthanded breakaway with defenseman Lukas Gustafsson giving chase. Gustafsson was able to track the puck down and barley get his stick on the puck, enough of a jolt to send the puck away from danger.
With neither team able to break the tie as the clock ticked down, the clubs went to overtime, the third straight game between Cedar Rapids and Chicago that required extra time.
The first half of the 3-on-3 period belonged to the Steel as the visitors controlled possession, peeling back to regroup for an offensive attack multiple times. Cedar Rapids took over from there, peppering four total shots on goal through the extra frame that were all turned away by Homer.
The best chance for an overtime winner came from RoughRiders defenseman Andy Moore who was denied trying to poke home a centering feed as Homer stretched from right to left, saving the game for Chicago.
The teams advanced to a shootout with Sam Lipkin and RoughRiders forward Adam Flammang each scoring in the first round before Bruveris and Homer went save-for-save for five straight rounds.
Steel forward Nick Moldenhauer finally solved the RoughRiders netminder in the seventh round and Homer made one final stop to seal the 3-2 victory, putting a n end to Chicago's four-game losing streak.
The Steel end the month of January with a 2-3-1-0 record, holding on to second place in the Eastern Conference as the league enters the month of February.
Chicago returns to action with a road trip to Green Bay, Wisconsin on Friday, Jan. 4 for a 7:05 puck drop against the Green Bay Gamblers at Resch Center before two straight games at Fox Valley Ice Arena on Saturday, Feb. 5 and Sunday, Feb. 6 against the USHL-leading Tri-City Storm. Wiener Dog Races headline Saturday's showdown at 7:05 pm CT while Sunday is a 3:05 pm CT puck drop for Rusty's Birthday Celebration and a Steel Family Pack Game with a special ticket deal featuring 4 tickets, 4 hot dogs, 4 chips, 4 sodas/waters and 4 chuck-a-pucks for just $50.
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, February 5 vs. Tri-City Storm (7:05 pm CT) Wiener Dog Races
Sunday, February 6 vs. Tri-City Storm (3:05 pm CT) Rusty's Birthday | Steel Family Pack Game
Saturday, February 19 vs. Team USA (U17) (7:05 pm CT)
United States Hockey League Stories from January 29, 2022
- Steel Snap Skid with 3-2 Shootout Win over Cedar Rapids - Chicago Steel
- Fighting Saints Outlast Capitols - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Greene Drains Overtime Winner to Split Weekend Series - Green Bay Gamblers
- Lancers Complete Another Comeback in Overtime - Omaha Lancers
- Jacks Fall 5-4 in Overtime to Green Bay, Split Weekend Series - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Stampede Earn a Point in Omaha - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Hawks Rally Not Enough - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Stars Lose 4-2 to Storm - Lincoln Stars
- Storm Tie Organization Record in Win - Tri-City Storm
- Caps Down Steel 4-2 with Complete Home Victory - Madison Capitols
- Fighting Saints' Valiant Comeback Effort Falls Short in Shootout - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Hawks Claim Shootout Win - Waterloo Black Hawks
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