Chicago 8, Green Bay 3
The Chicago Steel defeated the Green Bay Gamblers 8–3, on Friday, after falling behind 3–1 in the second period. The seven unanswered goals the Steel scored came from seven different players. The victory also gave Steel goaltender Justin Robbins his 23rd win, breaking the previous record.
Forward Sam Colangelo scored his first career USHL goal, at the 11:10 mark in the first period, burying a shot past Gamblers goaltender Maxsim Zhukov.
Not sure exactly what happened here, but it ended real nice 👌
Sam Colangelo gets his 1️⃣st @ChicagoSteel goal! #WhosNext pic.twitter.com/02alVIwIyE— USHL (@USHL) March 23, 2019
Green Bay answered back with three straight goals of their own, the last coming on the power play, at the 2:59 mark of the second period. Forwards Luke Mylymok, Tyler Spott and Austin Heidemann tallied for the Gamblers.
That would be it for the Gamblers, as Robbins shut the door the rest of the way. The Steel scored three goals in a span of 3:02 to take a 4–3 lead, before adding two more goals in the period, to take a 6–3 lead into the second intermission.
Chicago’s three goal outburst started when Jake Schmaltz scored his fourth goal of the season. The power play goal was assisted by Owen Power and Mathieu De St. Phalle.
Not to be outdone, forward Josiah Slavin scored his 20th goal of the season.
Josiah Slavin hot on the backhand 👀 🔥
Great set up from Mastrosimone and Robbins 🍎@ChicagoSteel #WhosNext pic.twitter.com/I50Xomrey2— USHL (@USHL) March 23, 2019
Forward Cole Quisenberry and Christian Sarlo added two more goals, their tenth and eleventh goals this season, to close out the second period.
Jake Schmaltz found the back of the net for his second goal of the game, extending the Steel lead to 7–3, before defenseman Luke Reid finished off the scoring with his first goal this season.
Justin Robbins turned aside 20 shots for the victory.
Justin Robbins picked up his 23rd win of the season tonight, setting a new franchise record for single-season wins! #WeAreSteel pic.twitter.com/X4W7GCoNrT
— Chicago Steel (@ChicagoSteel) March 23, 2019
Chicago 6, Lincoln 1
Steel Goaltender Justin Robbins added another victory to his all-time victory total, stopping 16 of the 17 shots he faced, helping his team defeat the Lincoln Stars 6–1. Chicago received goals from six different players, holding onto the third spot on the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Forward Josiah Slavin scored his 21st goal this season beating Stars’ goaltender Samuel Hlavaj. The goal is the Chicago Blackhawks’ prospects fourth goal in three games.
Josiah Slavin (@chicagosteel) gets on the board against his former team! #WhosNext pic.twitter.com/vI56Y6MyPH
— USHL (@USHL) March 24, 2019
Chicago took a 2–0 lead with under two minutes to play in the first period, when forward Robert Mastrosimone scored his 28th goal this season. The goal, assisted by Nick Abruzzese and Mathieu De St. Phalle, gave the Boston University commit his 100th career point with the Chicago Steel.
Congratulations to #WeAreSteel forward Robert Mastrosimone (@rmastro9424) who became just the fifth player in franchise history to reach 💯 career regular season points with his goal today! pic.twitter.com/Vc2YlDXDdC
— Chicago Steel (@ChicagoSteel) March 24, 2019
Forward Sam Colangelo scored his second goal in as many games, giving the Steel a 3–0 lead, at the 16:14 mark of the second period. The goal was assisted by forward Christian Sarlo.
Defenseman Owen Power scored his ninth goal of the season, when burying a shot past Hlavaj, assisted by forward Jake Schamltz and defenseman Uula Ruikka.The goal gave Chicago a 4–0 lead heading into the second intermission.
Keep your 👀 out for Owen Power (@ChicagoSteel) #WhosNext pic.twitter.com/FwfkVUjn5R
— USHL (@USHL) March 24, 2019
The Steel would not be finished pouring it on the Stars. Less than two minutes in to the period, forward Nick Abruzzese extended the Steel’s lead to 5–0, before De St. Phalle finished off the scoring for the Steel.
Lincoln finally beat Robbins, at the 7:33 mark in the third period, when defenseman Samuli Niinisaari scored his seventh goal this season.
The victory left Chicago (34–19–2–0) a three point lead over the Youngstown Phantoms and Cedar Rapids Rough Riders for second place in the Eastern Conference playoff race.