Steel Top First-Place Dubuque
November 8, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release
DUBUQUE, IOWA - The Chicago Steel (4-8-1-1, 10 points) snapped a six-game winless streak Saturday with a 4-1 defeat of the first-place Dubuque Fighting Saints (9-4-0-0, 18 points) at the Mystique Community Ice Center. Four different Steel forwards scored in the win, including center Marc Johnstone's first USHL goal, a shorthanded goal in the second period that proved to be the game-winner.
Chicago opened up the scoring in a fast-paced first period, as Max Zimmer crashed the net and redirected a perfect feed from Tanner Laczynski past the blocker of Dubuque goaltender Jaxon Castor at 13:43. Just over two minutes later, the Fighting Saints tied the game, 1-1, as former Steel defenseman Carson Vance's shot from the top of the left circle bounced up high over the crease and rolled behind the left leg of Chicago netminder John Lethemon.
The Steel regained the lead in the second period, scoring their second shorthanded goal in as many nights. After Karch Bachman intercepted the puck and raced down the ice, Marc Johnstone sent Bachman's rebound past the glove of Castor at 14:21 to give Chicago a lead it wouldn't relinquish.
Chicago frustrated the Fighting Saints throughout the third period. Niklas Lehtimaki scored his first goal with the Steel by sending an innocent wrist shot from the right point past Castor at 5:27. As the intensity increased, defenseman Ruslan Rakhmatov tangled in a hard-hitting fight with Dubuque winger Shane Kavanagh. Later in the period, Dubuque's Baron Thompson committed a kneeing penalty on Lehtimaki, setting the stage for a five-minute power play for Chicago. On the man advantage, Bachman scored for the third consecutive game, putting the contest out of reach.
Lethemon stopped 25 of 26 shots in the victory that was highlighted by a strong defensive effort. Chicago finished the game a perfect 5-for-5 on the penalty kill.
The Steel return to Fox Valley Ice Arena for a six-game homestand starting with a two-game weekend against the Youngstown Phantoms on November 14 and 15. For more details or to purchase tickets, call 855-51-STEEL, visit the box office inside Fox Valley Ice Arena or check us out online at ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.
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