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USHL Chicago Steel

Three-Goal Third Propels Steel to 5-2 Win at Youngstown

April 7, 2018 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO - The Chicago Steel broke a 2-2 tie in the third period with three unanswered goals to skate to a 5-2 victory against the Youngstown Phantoms Saturday night at Covelli Centre. Todd Goehring recorded the game-winning goal and added an assist, and Justin Robbins made 40 saves as the Steel defeated the second-place Phantoms for the first time this season. With the win, Chicago (26-25-2-5, 59 pts.) lowered its magic number to clinch a playoff berth to three with two games remaining.

Five different players lit the lamp for the Steel - Blake McLaughlin, Eric Otto, Goehring, Matteo Pietroniro and Brian Hurley. Youngstown (32-19-5-2, 71 pts.) received goals from Max Ellis and Chase Gresock. In a game that saw a combined 91 shots on goal, the Steel outshot Youngstown by a 49-42 margin.

McLaughlin opened the scoring at the 11:41 mark of the first period with the only goal of the frame, firing a wrist shot from the right circle. The Steel sent a season-high 20 first-period shots on net.

Early in the second period, Otto recorded his first goal with the Steel, jamming a puck past Chicago Blackhawks prospect Wouter Peeters' blocker at 1:28.

But the two-goal lead was short-lived. The Phantoms responded with a pair of second-period goals to tie the game; Ellis scored on the power play just 35 seconds after Otto's tally, then Gresock tipped in a stick-side shot at the backdoor at 9:14.

The Steel broke the tie 3:27 into the third period. After sustained pressure in the offensive end, Samuel Bucek forced the puck into the slot from behind the goal line where Goehring fired the eventual game-winner past Peeters' glove. The Steel extended the lead less than two minutes later when Pietroniro registered his third goal of the weekend with a blast from the left point. Robbins and the Chicago defense maintained the two-goal lead until Hurley added an empty-net goal at 17:03 to secure the 5-2 win.

Chicago maintained its one-point lead in the standings over Cedar Rapids for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with two games to play. Chicago owns the tiebreaker based on regulation and overtime wins, so three points in the last two games would secure the Steel a playoff berth for the second consecutive season.

I-55 rivals Chicago and Central Illinois will battle in a home-and-home series that starts Friday, April 13 at Fox Valley Ice Arena in Geneva, as the Steel host Fan Appreciation Night. The 7:05 p.m. contest will feature a team photo giveaway for the first 1,000 fans in attendance, as well as hundreds of prizes given away all night long from the Steel and corporate partners including gift cards, unique fan experiences and more. Plus, game-worn jerseys from this season will be auctioned off at the game. The two teams then rematch the following night at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington, Ill., home of the Flying Aces. For more information, or to purchase Steel tickets, call 855-51-STEEL, stop by the Box Office at Fox Valley Ice Arena or visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.

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