Steel Win 4th In a Row; Second Straight In Shootout Fashion
Story By: Steve Jankowski
Bensenville (February 14th, 2009) --  For the third time in their last four games; and second straight night, the Chicago Steel worked overtime and then some, earning a 4-3 shootout win in Lincoln against the Stars. 

Steel netminder Hudson Stremmel turned in another strong performance, stopping 41 Lincoln shots, including four of five in the shootout.

Despite that, the Stars got on the board first on Kirt Hill's goal just under five minutes into the game. 

Chicago responded quickly, on Josh Balch's goal about 40 seconds later. 

Balch (Yale University) has scored two goals and three points total in four games since being acquired in a trade on February 5. 

Eight minutes into the second, Greg Wolfe gave Chicago their first lead on the night. 

Late in the second, Garrett Vermeersch tied the game at two, but once again, Chicago responded quickly as John Moore (Colorado College) pumped home his 12th goal of the year.  Dean Chelios and Andrew Miller (Yale University) picked up assists, to keep their point streaks alive.   

Miller has points in five straight games (8 points total) and Chelios has points in four straight games (5 goals and 7 points total). 

Chicago took that one goal lead into the third, and Stremmel did his best to make it hold up, but with the goalie pulled for the extra attacker, Vermeersch tied the game with 55 seconds left, sending the game into overtime. 

The Steel had a power play opportunity in the overtime period, but were unable to convert on that, or any power play chance.  Chicago went 0-for-3 on the power play in the game. 

In the shootout, Greg Wolfe scored in the first round, while former Steel forward Eric Alexander was denied.  Vermeersch tied it in round two, and it stayed that way into round five.  Rob Linsmayer (Holy Cross) scored the deciding goal, and Stremmel stopped Lincoln's Jake Newton to seal the Steel's fourth straight victory. 

The Steel went 4-3 on their season-long seven-game road trip, and they head home for a Wednesday night game against the Indiana Ice.  Game time is 7:30 p.m. and tickets can be ordered by calling the Steel box office at 630.594.1165.