GENEVA, ILLINOIS — The Chicago Steel (6-3-0-0; 12 pts.) scored four power play goals, jumping out to an early lead and holding on for a 5-4 victory over the Youngstown Phantoms (1-4-0-0; 2 pts.) Friday night at Fox Valley Ice Arena.
After the Steel jumped out to a 4-1 lead after the first, Youngstown pulled to within one goal on two separate occasions but could never tie the game as Chicago secured its first home win in three tries this season.
Steel defenseman Anthony Dowd registered a goal and two helpers for a career-best three point night and forwards Jayden Perron and Macklin Celebrini each racked up a pair of markers in the win.
Christian Manz backstopped the win for Chicago, making 23 saves to improve his record to 3-2-0-0 between the Steel pipes this year.
Dowd started his productive night when the Steel went to the power play early in the first. Leading a rush from his own defensive zone, Dowd crossed to the right side of the offensive zone and waited out Phantoms netminder Colin Winn, throwing a puck in front of the crease from below the goal line. The puck bounced off a Phantoms defender and in for a 1-0 Steel lead.
Macklin Celebrini added his first of the night when Chicago went on its third man advantage of the opening frame. Set up in the offensive zone, Jack Harvey drew attention on the left wing boards before sending a pass to Dowd who zipped a cross-ice pass to Celebrini, ready in the right circle. Celebrini connected on a one-timer sneaking a shot through the five-hole to double the Chicago lead.
The Phantoms cut the deficit in half with deflection from Brandon Svoboda on a point shot from defenseman Tomas Machu late in the first but the Steel added two quick goals in a fierce response.
During 4-on-4 play, Jayden Perron took advantage of open ice as he took a pass from Hunter Hady and caught Youngstown in the midst of a line change. Perron drifted down the right side and picked his spot with a quick wrister through the five-hole of Winn.
The power play again paid dividends for the Steel as Celebrini tallied his second goal of the game with under a minute to play in the first.
Bearing down on the Youngstown crease, Anthony Dowd fed Nick Moldenhauer who made a power move to the net and as the puck trickled through, Celebrini was on the doorstep to bang home the loose rebound.
The second period belonged to Youngstown as the Phantoms pulled to within a goal thanks to two quick strikes separated by just 52 seconds of game time.
After Jake Rozzi tallied his first goal of the season on a net front scramble, Shane Lachance took advantage of a power play with a bouncing puck off the end boards and in front of Manz. Lachance got to the loose puck first and was able to make the score 4-3 with his fourth goal of the season.
Perron was able to halt the momentum with Chicago's fourth power play goal of the game, the most in a single game this season. The University of North Dakota commit separated from the defense, was able to circle towards the net and dropped to a knee as he released a wrister that popped the back of the net just past the midway point of the middle frame.
With Chicago protecting a two-goal lead into the third, Youngstown once again brought the game back to a one-goal margin.
Defenseman Tomas Machu scored his first USHL goal just seven minutes into third. Machu found daylight with a shot from the right point, making the score 5-4.
As the Steel defended the lead, the chances for Youngstown dwindled all the way to the two-minute mark when the Phantoms pulled netminder Jacob Fowler for an extra attacker.
Even with Youngstown winning multiple offensive zone faceoffs, the Steel limited the Phantoms without a shot on goal through the entire 6-on-5 sequence to close the game in a 5-4 win for Chicago.
The Steel and Phantoms finish the two-game weekend with a 7:05 pm CT puck drop on Saturday, Oct. 22 at Fox Valley Ice Arena. The Saturday showdown is Parks and Rec Night celebrating the Pawnee Harvest Festival and the first Slumberland Family Pack game of the year, a special ticket deal with four tickets, four hot dogs, four chips, four sodas/waters and four chuck-a-pucks for just $50.
Steel single-game tickets start at just $10 and are on sale by calling 855-51-STEEL, purchasing at ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com or visiting the Steel box office at Fox Valley Ice Arena during business hours. Starting this season, all Steel tickets are now digital. To learn more, visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.
Season ticket plans starting at 5 games for just $50 and group tickets and experiences are on sale now by calling 855-51-STEEL or emailing info@ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.
Chicago Steel Upcoming Schedule presented by Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush:
Saturday, October 22 vs. Youngstown Phantoms (7:05 pm CT) Parks and Rec Night celebrating the Pawnee Harvest Festival | Slumberland Furniture Family Pack
Saturday, October 29 at Green Bay Gamblers (7:05 pm CT)
Friday, November 4 vs. Green Bay Gamblers (7:05 pm CT) Elvis Night
###
