Steel Win 6-5 in Overtime Thriller
February 24, 2023 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release
GENEVA, ILLINOIS- After both teams scored in the final minute of regulation, Jayden Perron scored the game-winning goal in overtime as the Chicago Steel (29-13-2-1; 61 pts) topped the Green Bay Gamblers (25-15-2-1; 53 pts) 6-5 Friday night at Fox Valley Ice Arena.
With the game tied at four, Nick Moldenhauer scored his second goal of the night to give the Steel the lead with less than a minute remaining in regulation. Less than 30 seconds later, Eli Sebastian scored for Green Bay to force overtime.
In the extra session, Jayden Perron buried a feed from Macklin Celebrini as Chicago won its seventh game in its last eight.
Moldenhauer was the offensive star for Chicago, scoring twice and registering an assist. Quinn Finley scored a goal and notched an assist.
Jake Livanavage tied a Steel franchise record for most career points by a defenseman in 78, equaling John Spetz (2015-2020). Livanavage extended his points/assist streak to five games with seven points.
Macklin Celebrini, Anthony Dowd, and Jack Harvey all recorded two assists in the victory.
Just over five minutes into the game, Green Bay got on the board first. Just after the Gamblers first power play of the game expired, the Gamblers snuck the puck past Steel goaltender Christian Manz. Michael DeAngelo made a cross-crease pass to Jimmy Clark on the doorstep, whose shot trickled past Manz for the goal.
Less than two minutes later, the Steel evened the game with a power play goal. Quinn Finley's shot from the right circle was saved by Green Bay goaltender Klayton Knapp, but the rebound made its way directly to the stick of Macklin Celebrini below the right circle. Celebrini faked a pass to Finley before making a cross-crease pass to Michael Emerson on the doorstep for a tip-in goal. In seven matchups against Green Bay this season, Emerson has five goals.
More than halfway through the period, the Steel struck again. Jake Livanavage skated out of a board battle with the puck and found Jack Harvey behind the net. Harvey made a no-look backwards pass to Nick Moldenhauer at the bottom of the right circle. Moldenhauer carried the puck to the slot before lifting it with his backhand past Knapp for a 2-1 Steel lead.
Just 38 seconds into the second period, Green Bay tied the game 2-2. Raimonds Vitolins stole the puck and took a shot from the crease. The puck sat in the blue paint for Jimmy Clark to bank in for his second goal of the game. Less than a minute later, Green Bay regained the lead. Carter Rose carried the puck to the crease, and in a traffic pileup, lost the puck. Matt DiMarsico picked it up and took advantage of the lack of visibility for the Steel netminder to sneak the puck past Manz for a 3-2 Green Bay lead.
At the halfway point of the middle frame, Green Bay doubled its lead to 4-2. Vitolins dangled around his defender before releasing a wrister. Manz stopped the shot with his shoulder, but the puck took an unfortunate bounce past him and into the net.
Just over a minute later, the Steel's dangerous power play cut Green Bay's lead to 4-3. Zam Plante received a pass in the left circle and connected with Moldenhauer below the blue line. Moldenhauer blasted a pass to the stick of Mick Thompson in the crease for Thompson's first goal since Feb. 3.
With less than four minutes left in the period, the Steel tied the game. Livanavage received the puck on the near boards at the blue line and connected with Anthony Dowd on the opposite wing. Dowd carried the puck to the top of the right circle and made a short pass to Quinn Finley. Finley protected the puck and skated around his defenders to the slot before releasing a low wrister for the equalizer.
The third period saw shots flying in both directions, but little high-quality scoring chances for much of the frame. As time wound down in regulation, Nick Moldenhauer put the Steel on top. In front of his own net, Hunter Hady made a short pass to Jack Harvey. Harvey carried the puck past the red line before passing to Moldenhauer at the top of the offensive zone. Moldenhauer danced around his defenders, getting tripped on the play. While falling, Moldenhauer managed to score a bardown goal over the right shoulder of Knapp for a 5-4 Steel lead.
Just 28 seconds later, with Knapp pulled, Eli Sebastian scored on a backhander from in front of the Steel crease to force overtime.
In overtime, after a heads-up play by Manz to play the puck in his own crease rather than cover it, the Steel used the extra possession to end the game. Rushing through the neutral zone with a pass to himself, Celebrini then dislodged a Green Bay defender trying to grab onto him, creating a two-on-none opportunity with Perron. Celebrini made a cross-ice pass to Perron for a tip-in overtime winner.
Tomorrow night, the teams finish out the home-and-home set as the Steel travel to Green Bay for a 7:05 p.m. CT matchup.
The Steel then travel to Dubuque to battle the Dubuque Fighting Saints on Tuesday, Feb. 28. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CT.
Next weekend, the Steel are back at Fox Valley Ice Arena for a home-and-home battle against the Madison Capitols.
Saturday, March 4 fans can enjoy Wiener Dog Races, presented by PetSuites, with puck drop scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CT. Dachshunds will take the ice during intermission to try to claim the prize of Wiener Dog Champion. Sunday, March 5 is Daddy/Daughter Day featuring an appearance by Barbie.
March 5 marks the return of the Slumberland Family Pack, a deal which includes four tickets, four hot dogs, four sodas/waters, four chips and four chuck-a-pucks for just $50. The package may be purchased in quantities of four to eight and may be purchased online by clicking here and purchasing from the column on the right side of the ticketing page. Puck drop is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. CT.
Tickets for all Steel home games start at just $10 and are available by calling 855-51-STEEL, purchasing at ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com or visiting the Steel box office at Fox Valley Ice Arena during business hours.
All Chicago Steel tickets are digital and available on mobile devices. Fans should create their profile online by clicking here. For more information on digital tickets for the Chicago Steel, click here. Fans attending Steel home games this season are encouraged to purchase tickets prior to arriving at the arena to avoid any delays on game night.
Season ticket plans for the 2023-2024 season are now on sale starting at just 5 games for just $50. As part of the team's "Ticket Plan Madness" campaign, for a limited time, fans that secure a new season ticket plan for next season will receive complimentary tickets for up to 14 games this season, including playoffs. Fans can call 855-51-STEEL or emai info@ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com to learn more.
United States Hockey League Stories from February 24, 2023
- Phantoms Slip Past Roughriders 2-1 - Youngstown Phantoms
- Gameday Preview - Lincoln Stars
- Year of the Comeback Continues - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Steel Win 6-5 in Overtime Thriller - Chicago Steel
- Lumberjacks Battle Back to Win Their Second Game in a Row - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Stars Fall to Stampede in Overtime - Lincoln Stars
- The Aftermath: Storm Defeats Musketeers 4-3 - Tri-City Storm
- Stampede Put a Halt to Losing Skid - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Lumberjacks Have a Two-Game Winning Streak After Gutting Out a 7-4 Victory Over Team USA - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Musketeers Run into Storm on the Road - Sioux City Musketeers
- Capitols Prepare for Tilt with Dubuque in Home-And-Home Series - Madison Capitols
- Mr. Smith Goes to Washington - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Storm Set for Weekend Series against Musketeers - Tri-City Storm
- Phantoms Rock USHL Cleveland Classic 4-1 Over Cedar Rapids - Youngstown Phantoms
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