The Chicago Steel extended their winning streak to eight games after defeating the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders 3–2 at home. The win gives Chicago a 12–7–1–0 record on the season (25 points).
Midway through the first period, Cedar Rapids jumped on the board after finding some puck luck. A point shot ricocheted off the end boards and ended up on RoughRider forward Ethan Wolthers stick. Wohlers buried it home for the lead, which would hold on for the rest of the period.
Gunnarwolfe Fontaine would tie the game with a one-timer from Jake Schmaltz. The shorthanded goal, with 4:39 left in the second period, gave Fontaine his first career USHL goal.
Gunnarwolfe Fontaine finishes off the shorthanded 2-on-1 with a 🚀 #WhosNext pic.twitter.com/apnx5D1uyU
— USHL (@USHL) December 5, 2018
Less than two minutes later, RoughRider defenseman Will Zmolek fired a slap shot past goaltender Justin Robbins. The goal would give Cedar Rapids the lead, again, as the horn sounded 2–1.
Less than one minute into the third period, Fontaine would even the score again. An initial shot by defenseman John Spatz, stopped by RoughRider goaltender Troy Kobryn, found the stick of Fontaine in the slot, who wasted no time finding the back of the net. The goal gave Fontaine his second of the evening, which was the quick strike Chicago needed.
At the 5:44 mark of the period, the Steel took the lead as captain Matteo Pietroniro wristed a shot past Kobryn. The unassisted goal gave the Boise, ID native his seventh of the season, second amongst defenseman in the USHL.
The RoughRiders would not crack the Chicago defense the rest of the period. The final horn sounded and Chicago held on for a 3–2 win.
Robbins would finish the game stopping 26 of 28 shots for the game. The Quinnipiac University commit has now won six straight starts, moving his record to 10–5–0 on the season.
Post-game interview with Greg Moore
Post Game Interview: Greg Moore December 4, 2018 https://t.co/MjODSFVNen via @YouTube
— Ray Napientek (@NapsakRay) December 5, 2018
Post-game interview with Gunnarwolfe Fontaine
Post Game Interview: Gunnarwolfe Fontaine December 4, 2018 https://t.co/kYBaXauWrS via @YouTube
— Ray Napientek (@NapsakRay) December 5, 2018