Sioux Falls 7, Chicago 4
The Chicago Steel jumped out to a 2–0 lead against the Sioux Falls Stampede, but a five goal second period by Sioux Falls did the Steel in, losing 7–4. Steel forward Nick Abruzzese picked up his 100th career USHL regular season point, while Ville Rasanen scored his first career USHL goal.
Chicago defenseman John Spetz put the Steel on the board, just over five minutes into the game, on the power play for his 8th goal of the season. The goal, assisted by forward Mathieu De St. Phalle and defenseman Owen Power, was the first of three power play goals for the Steel in the game.
Two minutes later, defenseman Ville Rasanen added to the Steel lead, firing a wrist shot past Stampede goaltender Jaxson Stauber. The Finnish product’s goal, assisted by forward Christian Sarlo, proceeded a six-goal onslaught by the Stampede.
Stampede forwards Ethan Phillips and Anthony Romano scored on the power play to end the first period and start the second. A few minutes later, forwards Sam Stevens and Austen Swankler extended the Stampede lead to 4–2. Before the second period finished, left wing Jared Wescott scored back-to-back goals, giving Sioux Falls the 6–2 lead heading in to the second intermission.
Steel Head Coach Greg Moore switched goaltenders after the fifth Stampede goal, replacing Justin Robbins with Reilly Herbst.
The Steel showed their resiliency when scoring two quick goals to start the third period. Forward Robert Mastrosimone fired his 24th goal of the season three minutes into the period. The goal, assisted by forward Gunnarwolfe Fontaine and Josiah Slavin, shortened the Stampede lead to 6–3.
Captain Matteo Pietroniro scored his 16th goal of the season three minutes later. The power play goal, assisted by Fontaine and Abruzzese, gave the Steel back-to-back power play goals and pulled within two goals at 6–4.
.@ChicagoSteel keepin' things interesting! 👀
Back within ✌️#WhosNext pic.twitter.com/Se758r525y— USHL (@USHL) March 9, 2019
Sioux Falls attempted three shots in the third period, as Chicago tried to claw their way back into the game, only to be denied with an empty net goal by forward Artem Ivanyuzhenkov, finished off the Steel 7–4.
Chicago outshot Sioux Falls 30–19 for the game, but could not take advantage of the edge in shots.
Team USA 5, Chicago 4 (OT)
Chicago bounced back the following evening to earn a point against Team USA, forcing overtime with two third period goals, before falling in overtime 5–4. In overtime, Steel goaltender Reilly Herbst made a great play on a Team USA penalty shot, only to surrender the game winning goal with 20 seconds left in the extra frame.
Former Chicago Mission 16U forward Landon Slaggert scored the first Team USA goal, at the 2:44 mark of the first period. The goal, Slaggert’s fourth of the season, was answered less than a minute later when Steel defenseman Owen Power scored his eight goal this season. The University of Michigan commits goal was assisted by forward Robert Mastrosimone.
With the game tied 1–1, Team USA scored two goals five minutes apart to extend their lead to 3–1. Forwards Tanner Latsch and Chase Yoder found the back of the net, for their third and fifth goals, respectively.
The wild first period would continue, forward Nick Abruzzese netted his 22nd goal of the season, assisted by forward Mathieu De St. Phalle and defenseman Jimmy Dowd, to cut the Team USA lead to 3–2 at the first intermission.
The only goal of the second period belonged to Team USA. Forward Hunter Strand fired a shot past Herbst to extend their lead to 4–2 after 40 minutes of action.
The Steel began the third period with two goals in the first 91 seconds. De St. Phalle took advantage of mishap by Team USA goaltender Drew Commesso, who turned the puck over to De St. Phalle for a tap in goal.
A few moments later, Abruzzese powered in a warp around goal to tie the game at 4–4. The Harvard commits goal was his 23rd on the season and force overtime.
The Steel could not take advantage of the one minute power play to start the overtime before Herbst made a nice play on the penalty shot, poking the puck from Team USA forward Thomas Bordeleau before getting off a shot attempt.
Team USA scored the game-winner, on a breakaway, as defenseman Eamon Powell fired a wrist shot past Herbst. Chicago outshot Team USA 35–33 for the game, while showing a lot of character to force overtime and gain a much-needed point on the weekend.
Chicago will be back in action this weekend for a pair of home games against the Youngstown Phantoms and Dubuque Fighting Saints. On Friday, the Steel celebrate “Irish Night” on St. Patrick’s Day weekend at 7:05 p.m. against the Phantoms. On Saturday, the Steel face off with the Fighting Saints, as Chicago will wear their custom gray and black jerseys during the game, that will be auctioned off, with proceeds benefiting the Geneva Academic Foundation. Puck drop for the Saturday is set for 7:05 p.m.