NEWS STORY
Chicago Defeats USA 4-2
Bensenville, IL (November 27th, 2009) -
The Chicago Steel returned home Friday night hoping
to move up in the Eastern Division point standings after
missing out on an opportunity to jump ahead of Green Bay
following a 2-1 overtime loss at the Resch Center this
past Wednesday.
As part of a back to back weekend, Chicago had a
great opportunity to gain ground beginning with a Friday
night matchup with Team USA, still looking to pick up
their first road victory of the season (0-4-1).
The last time the two met was in Chicago’s home
opener October 3rd, a 10-5 drubbing by the Steel. The
ten goals scored in that game represent a season high
for Chicago so far.
In the 1st, Forward Blake Pietila put Team USA on
the board at the 3:47 mark with his third goal of the
year. Chicago took 11 shots that period but came away
down 1-0 after one period of play.
The Steel recorded their 10th power play
goal of the year in the 2nd period, following
a Team USA hooking call, by Dan Kolomatis. For Kolomatis,
his fifth goal gives him a team high among Steel
defensemen.
Jake Chelios followed up 28 seconds later with an
unassisted goal past Team USA Goalie Matt McNeely, who
was 25 of 29, to give Chicago a 2-1 advantage. Still in
the 2nd, recently brought up affiliate Ian
Young notched his first USHL goal for Chicago which
would later prove to be the game winner.
The 3rd period was much the same as the
2nd, beginning with a goal from the Steel’s
Andrei Kuchin, his fifth. The Kuchin goal capped off a
solid offensive night for the Steel which included 29
shots on goal, 5 goals, including a converted power play
opportunity.
Team USA would manage one more score to close the
gap to 4-2 but Steel Goalie Connor Wilson did a solid
job of keeping Team USA off the board, stopping 18 of 20
for Chicago.
The win by Chicago, coupled with a win by Indiana
and an idle Green Bay, creates a three way log jam
across the top of the Eastern Standings heading into
tonight’s game at the Edge Ice Arena between Chicago and
Green Bay.
The puck drops at 7:30 and tickets can be purchased
by calling the Steel ticket office at (630) 594-1165.
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