NEWS STORY
Chicago Happy To Be Home
Bensenville, IL (January 24th, 2010) -
The
Chicago Steel welcomed the opportunity to play in front
of the home crowd this past weekend at the Edge Ice
Arena. The weekend series included a Friday Saturday
back-to-back with Western Division foes, the Des Moines
Buccaneers and the Sioux City Musketeers.
In two previous meetings with Des
Moines, one at home and away, it has been the home team
that has managed to pull out the victory each time.
In the 1st period, newly
acquired Forward Mike Esposito found the Steel’s Jake
Chelios in front of the net. Chelios’ seventh goal of
the season gave the Steel a 1-0 lead. Later in the
period, with less than two minutes before intermission,
Forward Andrei Kuchin managed enough separation from the
Des Moines defender to hook up with fellow forward Mark
Anthoine (Maine), his 21st goal of the year
which put Chicago up 2-0.
In the 2nd, sandwiched
between two Des Moines goals was Mike Esposito’s first
goal as a member of the United States Hockey League.
Esposito’s goal was one of 19 shots Chicago managed in
the period which gave the Steel a 3-2 advantage heading
into the final period.
Des Moines made a push in the
third when they scored two goals to go along with Steel
Forward Jay Camper’s (New Hampshire) fifth score of the
season. The 4-4 tie meant Chicago was headed to its
seventh OT opportunity of the season. It didn’t last
long, however, because Chelios netted a fifteen foot
slap shot that sent the 1,700 Steel faithful home happy.
The goal was Chelios’ second of the game and eighth
overall.
Saturday’s Mascot Night matchup
with Sioux City was the third time the two teams have
met this year. Each of the two previous, including ten
of the past eleven, have gone to overtime. Adding to the
excitement was the appearance of a dozen mascots from
leagues throughout Chicago, including, the NHL, AHL,
WNBA and others.
Sioux City managed a first period
goal to take a 1-0 lead into intermission. But, Steel
captain Greg Wolfe (Western Michigan) put Chicago on the
board with his 15th goal of the season. Mike
Esposito was credited with the assist-his second of the
weekend to go with a goal the night before.
Forward Andrei Kuchin put the Steel
on top with seconds to play in the 2nd period
with his 12th goal to take a 2-1 lead. Kuchin
now has one goal and two assists in his last five
games.
Sioux City’s Shane Sooth beat Steel
Goalie Connor Wilson to tie the score and force another
overtime between the two teams. Wilson, (25/27) has seen
his playing time expand with solid play over the last
several games.
Neither team was able to score in
the extra frame which pushed the matchup to shootouts.
Steel Defenseman Dan Kolomatis beat Sioux City Goalie
Matt Skoff, and, Connor Wilson did the rest-shutting the
Musketeers down on all five chances to give the Steel
their second OT win in as many nights.
The wins at home push Chicago back
into the playoff picture as the fourth seed in the
Eastern Division.
Chicago now heads to Indianapolis
for a two game series this January 29th and
30th against the Ice. |
