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USHL Chicago Steel

Steel Win Game One, 6-3 over RoughRiders

April 20, 2019 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release


GENEVA, ILLINOIS - Center Nick Abruzzese recorded just the 11th five-point night in franchise history, and the Chicago Steel scored three-straight goals in the second period and never looked back, defeating the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders 6-3 Saturday at Fox Valley Ice Arena. Abruzzese picked up two goals and three assists as the Steel defeated Cedar Rapids in Game 1 of the best-of-five Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Chicago captain Matteo Pietroniro opened the playoff scoring with a wrist shot from the blue line that found its way through traffic and past the glove of a screened Cedar Rapids goaltender Blake Pietila. The goal was Pietroniro's second in his eight career Clark Cup Playoffs game as defenseman Jimmy Dowd and Abruzzese added the assists. Abruzzese picked up where he left off in the regular season, tallying a franchise-best 51 assists en route to winning the USHL scoring race with 80 points.

On the ensuing shift, Cedar Rapids forward Max Sasson rang a shot off the crossbar, nearly tying the game. Midway through the period and halfway through the first powerplay of the game, Cedar Rapids sent a shot over the cross bar of an open cage, nearly bringing the game even for a second time.

Less than two minutes after the second near-miss from the RoughRiders, Cedar Rapids forward Jerry Harding picked up his second goal of the playoffs to tie the game 1-1 with less than nine minutes to play in the first period. Harding came streaking down past the benches and fired a tough-angle shot over the right shoulder of Steel netminder Justin Robbins.

Cedar Rapids took its first and only lead of the game early in the second as Harding added his second of the game, this time shorthanded. Harding stole the puck at his blue line and beat Robbins with a perfectly placed wrist shot in the upper corner of the net. The goal came late in the Steel powerplay after Abruzzese was robbed by Pietila on a sliding safe after a perfect setup pass from right wing Robert Mastrosimone.

Chicago answered back less than three minutes later when defenseman John Spetz rocketed home a one-time slap shot from the point to even the score. Abruzzese found Spetz with the perfect setup pass for his second assist of the game after left wing Neil Shea cycled the zone while his team changed.

The Steel appeared as though they were going to regain the lead with 11:30 to play in the second but a sliding Pietila got the knob of his stick on an Adam Robbins shot on the wide open net.

Chicago then struck for a pair of goals within 37 seconds as left wing Christian Sarlo and Abruzzese combined to make it a 4-2 lead. Sarlo's came after right wing Travis Treloar fed him a perfect feed from behind the net. Abruzzese finished off a Pietila save on a Mastrosimone shot.

The RoughRiders cut the Steel lead to one on the powerplay with 36 seconds remaining in the second but it was the last time they would beat Robbins who had 23 saves including several highlight-reel stops.

The Steel struck twice more in the final frame, including Shea's goal just 31 seconds into the third. Shea finished off a beautiful tic-tac-toe passing play with Abruzzese and Mastrosimone to regain a two-goal lead. Abruzzese then capped the scoring with a breakaway goal with 8:49 to play in the game.

Chicago and Cedar Rapids are back in action Sunday for a 5:05 p.m. puck drop for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at Fox Valley Ice Arena. Following Sunday's game, the series will shift to Cedar Rapids for Game 3 on Tuesday.

Single game tickets for the Eastern Conference Semifinals are on sale now.

For more information, call 855-51-STEEL or visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.

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United States Hockey League Stories from April 20, 2019


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