USHL Chicago Steel

Strong Third Not Enough for Steel to Overcome Black Hawks in 4-2 Loss

November 9, 2018 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release


GENEVA, ILLINOIS - A strong third period from the Steel was not enough to complete the comeback as they fell to the Waterloo Black Hawks 4-2 Friday night at Fox Valley Ice Arena. Trailing 3-0 entering the frame, the Steel (4-7-1-0, 9 pts.) outshot the Black Hawks 14-7 and controlled the third period but Waterloo's (8-2-3-1, 20 pts.) lead proved too much to overcome.

Waterloo opened the scoring with a pair of goals midway through the opening frame. Black Hawks forward Connor Caponi finished off a two-on-one pass from forward Xander Lamppa. Waterloo doubled down less than 90 seconds later when forward Emil Ohrvall collecterd the puck at the blue line and flew down the left side, rifling a low wrister pas thte glove of Steel goaltender Reilly Herbst.

The Black Hawks added a third goal 13:46 when forward Vladislav Firstov took advantage of an odd-man rush to extended the Waterloo lead to 3-0.

Chicago answered back in the third with a pair of goals 3:09 apart early in the period. Left wing Neil Shea opened the scoring for the Steel when he shoveled home a rebound past Black Hawks goaltender Logan Stein. Steel left wing Josh Groll sent in the initial shot that Stein was able to save, but the rebound fell perfectly to Shea's stick.

The Steel made it a one goal game at the 5:41 mark of the third when center Adam Robbins finished off a no-look feed from Shea on the powerplay. After center Travis Treloar sent a pass to Shea at the side of the net, the Northeastern commit sent a backhanded pass to an open Robbins on the doorstep who deposited the puck in a wide-open Waterloo net.

Steel defenseman Matteo Pietroniro kept the Steel within a goal when he cleared the puck off the goal line after it trickled through the five hole of Herbst, stopping a Waterloo breakaway after a penalty expired. The goalie, making his first start of the season, made a big sliding save moments later to keep the Steel within one.

Chicago tried to ride the momentum when they pulled Herbst for the extra attacker with 3:15 to play but Stein and the Waterloo defense stifled the Steel until Black Hawks forward Ryan Drkulec iced the game with an empty net goal with 35.9 seconds to play.

Chicago kept the league-leading power play scoreless on Waterloo's five opportunities. The Black Hawks entered the game having converted 37.5 percent of their chances with the man advantage.

Chicago returns to action Saturday night in Madison, Wis. for a 7:05 p.m. puck drop against the Madison Capitols. The Steel return home Friday, Nov. 23 for Elf: A Fifteenth Anniversary Celebration game as the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders come to town. The Black Friday game is also a Steel Family Pack game with a pack of four tickets, four hot dogs, four sodas and four chuck-a-pucks starting at just $48.

Tickets for all Steel home games are on sale now starting at just $10 and stadium seating on the glass is available for just $20. Parking is always free. The Steel offer discounted tickets for groups and season ticket plans start at just 5 games for $45.

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

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United States Hockey League Stories from November 9, 2018


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