Steel Visit Green Bay with Playoffs Top of Mind
Published on March 27, 2024 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release
GENEVA, ILLINOIS - With just six games remaining in the regular season, the Steel will make their way to Wisconsin for the final time in the regular season and square off with the Green Bay Gamblers on Friday, March 29 at 7:05 pm CT and Saturday, March 30 at 6:05 pm CT.
The Steel lead the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders by four points in the Eastern Conference standings for the sixth and final playoff spot.
While the battle to qualify for the Clark Cup Playoffs may not be resolved in April, if things break right for Chicago they can clinch a playoff spot this weekend if they secure a win in both matchups against Green Bay and the RoughRiders lose both of their games in regulation against the Muskegon Lumberjacks.
Chicago will return to friendly ground next weekend and host the Dubuque Fighting Saints for the second time in three weeks on Friday, April 5 at 7:05 pm CT, where the first 500 fans will receive a pair of Chicago Steel Solar Eclipse Glasses during 80's Night presented by Go Brewing.
The Steel (25-24-3-4) earned two crucial points last weekend after a dominant 5-0 win over Cedar Rapids on March 23, featuring the first USHL shutout for goalie Quentin Sigurdson.
Chicago dropped a 5-1 loss to the Dubuque Fighting Saints on Sunday, March 24, but remained four points ahead of Cedar Rapids who lost to Green Bay the same day.
All six of Chicago's remaining matchups are against current playoff teams, with two each against the current top three in the East.
The top line for Chicago again came up big in the shutout win over Cedar Rapids on March 23. Mick Thompson potted two goals and an assist, marking the second time in three games he recorded two goals in a game. Michael Hage extended his home point streak to 15 games with a goal and two assists in the win but saw his lengthy run on home ice come to an end after being held scoreless on March 24. Still, Hage enters this weekend ranked fourth in league scoring with 68 points. During his nine-game point streak, Hage had 20 points with eight goals and six multi-point games.
Since making his debut on Feb. 18, Sigurdson has been a force in net for Chicago. He has won each of his last three starts and has allowed just four goals over that span.
The Steel are 5-1-0-1 this season, including a 4-2 road win on March 13. The Steel have yet to lose a game at the Resch Center in Green Bay this season and are 34-34-5-1 on the road all-time against Green Bay. The Steel are 77-68-6-4 all-time against the Gamblers.
Green Bay (32-16-5-2, 71 pts) had a three-game set last weekend against three different opponents and took four of six points to remain in second place in the East. The Gamblers trounced the USA Hockey NTDP in a 7-2 win on March 22. Fourteen different Gamblers got on the scoresheet in the victory. Green Bay couldn't translate the offense the following night as they fell to Dubuque 6-2 on March 23. Green Bay lent the Steel a helping hand when they defeated Cedar Rapids 3-2 on March 24.
The Gamblers are an even 5-5-0-0 in their last ten games and are just one point ahead of third place Muskegon, who has a game in hand over Green Bay. Both Green Bay and Muskegon clinched playoff berths last weekend.
Forward Julian Lutz continues to roll for Green Bay, coming in as the top scorer for the team and the tenth-highest scorer in the league. Lutz recorded a point in each game last weekend, scoring three goals and four assists. He has recorded multiple points in five consecutive games, amassing 11 points during the streak. In five games against the Steel this season, Lutz has been limited to five points with two goals.
The Slovakian netminder and Chicago Blackhawks prospect Adam Gajan has been heavily relied on by Green Bay this season. He has won just two of his last five starts but reigns as one of the top goalies in a handful of categories. Gajan's 21 wins this season rank fourth among league goaltenders, while his playing time sits in third, having played 2,204 minutes. He has seen more pucks than others this season as well, ranking second with 1,055 saves, one save more than Steel goaltender Louka Cloutier (1,054).
Steel single-game tickets are on sale now, starting at just $10. All Steel tickets are digital, and fans are encouraged to purchase online in advance at ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.
For a limited time, fans can take advantage of the team's Ticket Plan Madness promotion to receive free regular season and playoff games for this season plus other benefits when signing up for a new ticket plan for the 2024-2025 season. Ticket plans start at just 5 games for $50.
Group tickets and experiences, suites and other premium areas, including the team's new Ice Side Tables, are also on sale now.
For more information, call 855-51-STEEL.
Chicago Steel Upcoming Schedule presented by Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush: Friday, March 29 at Green Bay Gamblers (7:05 pm CT) Saturday, March 30 at Green Bay Gamblers (6:05 pm CT)
Friday, April 5 vs. Dubuque Fighting Saints (7:05 pm CT) | 80's Night presented by Go Brewing | Solar Eclipse Glasses Giveaway (first 500 fans)
United States Hockey League Stories from March 27, 2024
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