USHL Chicago Steel

Steel Strike Late For 3-2 Comeback Win Over Thunder

Published on February 19, 2016 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release


BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS - Austen Long broke a 2-2 tie with 2:46 remaining as the Chicago Steel (19-18-4-3, 45 points) defeated the Bloomington Thunder (24-15-3-1, 52 points) Friday night at U.S. Cellular Coliseum. Long's goal was preceded by a tying tally earlier in the third period by Karlis Cukste, helping the Steel pick up their first win of the season when trailing after two periods of play. Following the victory, Chicago has earned at least one point in 12 of its last 15 games.

The Steel needed only 20 seconds of power play time to find the first goal of the game. Samuel Bucek stickhandled in on a breakaway and sent a shot in off of the right leg pad of Bloomington goaltender Hayden Lavigne at 4:36. The Thunder would find the equalizer later in the period, as Sean Harrison dug after his own rebound at the top of the crease, sending the puck past Chicago's Daniel Vladar at 13:44. At the first intermission, the game was tied 1-1, with Bloomington tripling the Steel in shots on goal, 12-4.

Chicago increased its offensive output in the second period, outshooting Bloomington 12-10 in the frame. However, it was the Thunder who scored the lone goal of the period. Brogan Rafferty's shot from the right wing wall bounced down in front of the crease, where Logan Lambdin was able to corral the bouncing puck and quickly send a backhand shot past the glove side of Vladar, giving Bloomington a 2-1 lead with just 36 seconds remaining in the period.

In the third period, CCM/USHL Defenseman of the Week Karlis Cukste tied the game for Chicago with a low shot from the right point that snuck inside the left post at 2:01. The play was setup by a beautiful feed from Christiano Versich. The game appeared to be headed to overtime until Steel newcomer Austen Long fired a wrist shot from the left circle past Lavigne with 2:46 remaining in regulation. With Bloomington's goalie pulled in favor of an extra attacker, Steel defenseman Adam Parsells was able to reach his stick blade on a puck and deflect a potentially-tying shot over the Chicago net, securing a 3-2 win for the Steel.

Daniel Vladar picked up his second straight win with 30 saves on the night. Samuel Bucek has now tallied a point in three of his four games since joining the Steel. Long's unassisted game-winner was his first goal since being acquired by the Steel in a Feb. 6 trade with the Tri-City Storm.

The Steel make their only trip of the season to Des Moines on Saturday for a 7:05 p.m. CST matchup against the Buccaneers. Chicago then returns to Fox Valley Ice Arena on Friday, Feb. 26 as they host the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders at 7:30 p.m. The Steel will celebrate mascot Rusty's birthday with a visit from Chicagoland mascots and a special intermission mascot game. Plus, it's a Steel Family Pack game with four tickets, four hot dogs, four sodas and four chuck-a-pucks starting at just $59. Tickets are available at the box office inside Fox Valley Ice Arena, by phone at 855-51-STEEL and online at ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.

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United States Hockey League Stories from February 19, 2016


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