Special Teams Key In Chicago's Victory
Story By: Steve Jankowski
Bensenville (December 14, 2008) -- Special teams can often decide hockey games, and that was the case Sunday afternoon at the Edge Ice Arena as the Steel got a 3-1 win over Green Bay.

Hudson Stremmel made a few big saves early on, as well as helping the penalty kill hold Green Bay's power play scoreless in five attempts on the afternoon.  In all, he stopped 31 Green Bay shots, earning his 10th win of the year.

After a scoreless first period, Green Bay got on the board early in the second with a shorthanded goal.  The Gamblers forced a turnover and Reed Seckel beat Stremmel with a wrist shot 7:39 into the middle frame.

Just over two minutes later, the Steel returned to the power play.  Andrew Miller (Yale University) sent Eric Alexander (Ferris State University) down the right-wing side and he snapped a wrist shot past Reid Ellingson to even the score.  It was Alexander's league-leading 17th goal of the year.

The teams remained tied into the third, until Chicago struck with a shorthanded goal of their own.  The Steel won a faceoff just inside Green Bay's blue line, and Matt Lindblad slid the puck to Rob Linsmayer, who beat Ellingson over his blocker to give Chicago their first lead of the game.

Just under two minutes later, the Steel added to their lead.  Mark Anthoine (University of Maine) and Max Nicastro (Boston University, Detroit Red Wings) worked a nifty give-and-go, and Nicastro finished off the play with a snapshot past Ellingson for his fifth goal of the season.  The Steel went 2-for-3 on the power play. 

Stremmel and the defense did the job the rest of the way, to earn Chicago's 13th win on the year. 

The Steel return to action on home ice next Friday night, when they host the Waterloo Black Hawks.  Game time is 7:30 p.m. and tickets can be ordered by calling 630.594.1165.