Bensenville, IL (March 17th, 2008) -- The Steel went into the weekend being chased by the Ohio Junior Blue Jackets for the fourth and final playoff spot in the East Division.  Before battling in Columbus on Saturday night the Steel had to take on the Green Bay Gamblers Friday night at The Edge in front of 1,388 fans.

Green Bay came in looking to snap an eight game winless streak, while the Steel had lost four out of their last five.  The Steel were able to get on the scoreboard first when Andrew Miller (Yale) scored a powerplay goal on Gambler goaltender Neil Conway.  The goal was assisted by Luca Cunti (St. Cloud State) and John Moore (Colorado College).  The Gamblers would answer half way through the second with a power play goal of their own.  Brian O’Neill (Yale) put Chicago back on top in with less than a minute to go in the second period when he notched a powerplay goal with assists from Andrew Miller and Simon Olsson.  Chicago would get two more powerplay goals in the third from Ryan Schnell which was assisted by Dominic Morrone.  Schnell's goal was followed by Brian O’Neill’s second of the night, assisted by Drew LeBlanc (St. Cloud State) and Aaron Schmit, to put the Steel up 4-1.  The Gamblers mounted a comeback though late in the third scoring three goals, two on the powerplay, in less then 7 minutes.  The game went into overtime with the Steel needing the extra point due to Ohio’s 6-2 victory over Indiana earlier in the night.  John Moore provided the heroics for the Steel when he tipped in a powerplay goal 1:48 into overtime on a Brian O’Neill shot.  Drew LeBlanc also assisted the goal.  The win gave Nick Pisellini his tenth victory of the season and extended Green Bay’s winless streak.

Immediately following the game the team boarded a bus and made the six hour trip to Columbus.  The Steel jumped out to a lead on the Junior Blue Jackets when Simon Olsson recorded his tenth goal of the season with assists from Brian O'Neill and Max Nicastro (Boston University).  Chicago came out quickly in the second with Simon Olsson recording his second goal of the game and eleventh of the season.  Brian O'Neill and Andrew Miller had the assists.  Miller would add a goal of his own just 13 seconds later to put the Steel up 3-0.  Ohio notched their first goal of the game seven minutes into the second, only to have Luca Cunti increase the Steel lead back to three heading into the third.  Less than ten minutes into the third though Ohio had cut the lead to one by getting two past Steel netminder Rob Madore (Vermont).  However with helpers from Barron Smith and Brian O'Neill, Drew LeBlanc scored with under three minutes left to give the Steel a two-goal lead.  O’Neill would add an empty netter to secure the win with an assist from Aaron Schmidt.  The victory was Rob Madore’s 16^th of the season and 24^th in his USHL career.

The Steel finished the weekend six for nine on the powerplay while earning four crucial points.  They are currently nine points ahead of the Ohio Junior Blue Jackets and five points behind third place Cedar Rapids.  Chicago will play Ohio this Wednesday in Columbus.  They will head home then to play three games in three days this weekend.  Friday and Saturday night’s games will take place at The Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville.  Sunday’s contest against the Ohio Junior Blue Jackets will take place at the United Center at 6pm. 

Tickets for all three games are still available and can be purchased by calling (630) 594-1165.