USHL Chicago Steel

Three-Goal Second Period Fuels Phantoms to 6-4 Victory over Chicago Saturday

Published on January 2, 2016 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO - Phantoms captain Matt Alvaro scored two of Youngstown's three second period goals, leading the Phantoms (13-9-3-4, 33 points) to a 6-4 win Saturday over the Chicago Steel (11-16-2-2, 26 points) at Covelli Centre. Goaltender Ryan Bednard picked up a relief victory, stopping 14 of the 15 shots he faced in the final 40 minutes of the game after replacing starting goaltender Colin DeAugustine.

Chicago immediately gained a 1-0 lead as Jake Jaremko fed Max Zimmer for a tip through the five-hole of DeAugustine just 35 seconds into the contest. Later in the period, Youngstown tied the game, 1-1, when defenseman Sean Petrie bounced a shot through slot traffic and past Lethemon at 12:27. The Steel regained the lead with two goals late in the 1st period. Greg Printz tallied his first USHL point, sending an outlet pass ahead to Tanner Laczynski who sped in on a breakaway and beat DeAugustine with a forehand shot over the glove at 18:01. Just over a minute later, Matt Kiersted buried a wrist shot from the right point to give Chicago a 3-1 lead after one period of play.

After DeAugustine allowed three goals on 13 Steel shots in the first period, Bednard took over netminding duties for Youngstown after the intermission. The second period would not go as well as the first for Chicago, as Youngstown would score all three goals in the frame. Matt Alvaro finished a tic-tac-toe play for Youngstown just 48 seconds into the period to start the momentum change in favor of the home team. The Phantoms then tied the game one minute and nineteen seconds later when Tommy Apap found a loose puck near the edge of the crease and beat his fellow Michigan State commit Lethemon. Later in the period, Alvaro showed extreme patience and connected with a shot over Lethemon to give the Phantoms their first lead of the game, 4-3, heading into the third period.

Youngstown continued to roll in the third period. Kevin Conley blasted a shot off the post and into the net to score the Phantoms' fourth unanswered goal with 5:18 to play in the game. The Steel responded with a power play tally, as Karlis Cukste's shot from the right wing wall was tipped into the net by Marcel Godbout, cutting the Phantoms' lead to 5-4 with 3:31 remaining. Chicago pulled Lethemon in favor of an extra attacker for the final minute, but Youngstown leading scorer Cameron Morrison raced down the ice on a clearing attempt, beating an icing call to score on the empty net, securing a 6-4 victory for the Phantoms.

Lethemon finished with 27 saves. Chicago was outshot 33-28 in the game while being limited to six shots on goal in the third period.

Chicago holds a 3-2 season-series lead against Youngstown with the sixth and final meeting of the regular season scheduled for 4:05 p.m. CST Sunday at Covelli Centre. The Steel then continue their season-long, 10-game road trip next weekend with a two-game visit to Fargo to take on the Force. Chicago will return to Fox Valley Ice Arena for its next home game Sunday, Jan. 17 at 3 p.m. to take on Muskegon. This game will feature Mommy, Minions and Me Day. Plus, it's a Steel Family Pack game - fans can receive four tickets, four hot dogs, four sodas and four chuck-a-pucks starting at just $59. Tickets are available at the box office inside Fox Valley Ice Arena, by phone at 855-51-STEEL or online at ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.

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United States Hockey League Stories from January 2, 2016


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