On Friday, March 15th, the Chicago Steel
welcomed the Youngstown Phantoms to the Edge Ice Arena for their fifth match-up
of the season.
Knowing this was a big game for them, Chicago came out
strong ready to give the Phantoms everything they had. Chicago was the first to
capitalize when Tyler Heinonen lit up the lamp, with a pass from Drew
Smolcynski, eight minutes into the first, giving the Steel a 1-0 lead. Roughly
ten minutes later, Youngstown’s Austin Cangelosi came back with a power play
goal to even the score at 1.
In the second, both teams came out ready to capitalize on
any chance they got. Neither team was successful for the first half of the
period. Then at 11:17, Charlie O’Connor received a penalty shot after being
taken down from behind on a breakaway. O’Connor was unsuccessful on his penalty
shot. Following O’Connor’s penalty shot, Youngtown capitalized with two goals.
The first goal, at 16:03, was a power play goal, scored by John Padulo. Then
two minutes later, Eric Sweetman followed up with a shorthanded goal,
furthering the lead between Youngstown and Chicago by 2, making the ending
score of the second 3-1.
One minute into the third, Youngtown’s Kyle Connor
capitalized making the score 4-1. Ten minutes later, Chicago’s Alex Roos came
back with a power play goal, lessoning the lead between the two teams. Roos
didn’t stop there. A minute later Roos netted his second goal of the game,
putting Chicago one point away from Youngstown. Unfortunately, Chicago was
unable to catch up by the end of the game, giving the Phantoms a 4-3 victory
over the Steel.
Drew Smolcynski, Ray Pigozzi, and Jaccob Slavin all
recorded assists during the game.
Chris Nell had 24 saves during regulation, and the Steel
outshot Youngstown 36-28.
On Saturday, March 16th, the Indiana Ice
welcomed the Chicago Steel to Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
Chicago came out ready to put Friday’s game behind them,
and gain two points. Indiana was the first to capitalize, when Mikhail
Plotnikov netted a shot less than two minutes into the period. Neither team was
successful after that, ending the first 1-0.
In the second both teams played hard, trying to manipulate
any plays or mistakes they could take advantage of. With 1:13 left in the
second, Ray Pigozzi saw an opening and netted a shorthanded goal, ending the
period 1 all.
In the third the Steel came out strong when Tyler Hill
scored 16 seconds into the third, putting the Steel ahead 2-1. Two minutes
later Mackenzie MacEachern received a penalty shot, when he was taken down from
behind on a breakaway. MacEachern was unable to put the puck past goaltender
Anderson Snair. With 10 minutes to go in the third Indiana’s Mitch Hults tied
the game up at 2, sending the game into overtime.
Neither team was successful in overtime, allowing a
shootout to determine the game. Alex Sakellaropoulos had two huge saves during
the shootout when Indiana’s Joseph Widmar and Jason Salvaggio were unable to
score. However, Drew Smolcynski and Alex Roos both scored allowing Chicago to
come away with two points.
Patrick Polino, Christian Neumann, and Drew Smolcynski
all recorded assists during the game.
While Chicago was outshot 43-33, Alex Sakellaropoulos had
41 saves during regulation.
This weekend the Steel play three games in three days. On
Friday, March 22nd, the Muskegon Lumberjacks will welcome the Chicago Steel to
the LC Walker Arena. Puck drop will be at 7:15pm (6:15pm Chicago time). On
Saturday, March 23rd, the Chicago Steel will welcome Team U-17's to the Edge
Ice Arena. Game time is set for 7:05pm. On Sunday, March 24th, the Chicago
Steel will welcome the Indiana Ice to the Edge Ice Arena. Game time is set for
3pm. Following the game, kids are able to go on the ice and shoot with the
Steel players. You can purchase a ticket to participate for an additional $3.
Chris Dodero #25
Drew Smolcynski #18
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