GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN — The Chicago Steel (7-4-0-0; 14 pts.) got off to a historic start with a seven-goal opening frame and went the distance to earn a 7-1 win over the Green Bay Gamblers (5-4-1-0; 11 pts.) Saturday afternoon at Resch Center in Wisconsin.
Matching the most explosive period in franchise history, Chicago was led by rookie Macklin Celebrini who tallied his first career USHL hat trick in the first while Nick Moldenhauer, Jayden Perron, Mick Thompson and Jack Harvey each reached the back of the net for the Steel.
Chicago goaltender Christian Manz made 31 saves to capture the victory, improving his record to 4-3-0-0 this season. The Blaine, Minn., native now has three starts this season allowing just one goal against.
Moldenhauer kicked off the first period outburst with his 10th goal of the season on a power play. The Toronto Maple Leafs prospect made a move wide on a Gamblers defender before releasing a wrister from the bottom of the right circle to put Chicago on the board.
From a similar spot on the ice, forward Jayden Perron netted his fifth marker of the season to double the lead with less than five minutes gone in the game. On an offensive rush, Cameron Johnson slid a pass to Perron who flicked a puck on net from the right dot that beat Gamblers netminder Kristoffer Eberly.
Celebrini's first of the game was tallied just over two minutes later, again from the right side of the offensive zone. The rookie pickpocketed a Gamblers skater at the Steel blue line then led an offensive rush and fired a shot from the hash marks of the right circle giving Chicago a 3-0 edge.
A full-ice passing sequence led to the fourth Steel goal of the period. Starting with a defensive zone faceoff win by Cameron Johnson, defenseman Michael Hagens found Johnson with a stretch pass heading into the neutral zone. Johnson held on to the puck as he slid a backhand feed to Mick Thompson who crashed the net and picked up his fifth marker of the season.
Celebrini struck moments later thanks to outstanding vision from Jack Harvey. After taking a feed from blueliner Olivier Beaulieu, Harvey found himself in the right corner of the offensive zone with time to scan the ice. Harvey fired a pass through traffic in the middle with Celebrini catching the puck and getting enough on a wrister to beat new Gamblers goaltender Peyton Grainer.
The Steel power play scored its second of the period with Harvey reaching the goal column late into the first. Harvey lingered on the left side of the offensive zone before Celebrini found him with a pass high in the zone. Harvey had enough room to step into the left circle and fire a shot for his sixth of the season.
Celebrini wrapped up his standout first period with a power play marker, his ninth of the year. Moldenhauer gained the offensive zone at full speed on the right wing boards with Celebrini matching him in the middle of the ice. As the USHL goals leader drew attention, Moldenhauer centered a pass to Celebrini who got his stick blade down to re-direct the pass behind Grainer.
With seven goals in the first period, the Steel matched a team record for most goals in a single period set on Jan. 9, 2021 in the middle frame of an 11-3 win over Team USA.
The Steel outshot Green Bay 18-10 through the first 20 minutes but the Gamblers began to level the ice in the middle frame.
Green Bay more than doubled the Steel shot total in the secon, totaling an 11-5 edge in the category including the team's first goal of the game.
Forward Eli Sebastian was able to solve Manz with an abbreviated odd-man rush late in the second. As Jayson Shaugubay pulled up and hit Sebastian in stride behind the play, Sebastian released a wrister that found the back of the net to get the Gamblers on the scoreboard.
Despite again doubling the Chicago shot total in the third period, Green Bay could not get past Manz as the Augustana University commit stopped all 11 shots faced in the final frame.
A hectic sequence late in the third resulted in Manz making multiple stops to keep Green Bay at one on the scoreboard. Starting with a netfront scramble, Gamblers defenseman Jacob Martin fired a shot from the slot that was deflected away by Manz. Moments later, the puck was worked around the perimeter with Martin wiring another shot on goal that was soaked up by the Steel netminder.
With the clock ticking down in the final minute and a Steel power play expiring, a loose puck found Artyom Levshunov fresh out of the penalty box for Green Bay. The defenseman broke in all alone on Manz with a chance to score but Manz beat him to the right post, keeping the 7-1 lead intact and sealing the road victory for Chicago.
The next Steel games are a pair of contests on home ice at Fox Valley Ice Arena. Friday, Nov. 4 is Elvis Night at 7:05 pm CT against the Green Bay Gamblers and Saturday, Nov. 5 against the Madison Capitols is Wayne's World 30th Anniversary Night with a Post-Game Skate with the Steel.
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:
Friday, November 4 vs. Green Bay Gamblers (7:05 pm CT) Elvis Night
Saturday, November 5 vs. Madison Capitols (7:05 pm CT) Wayne's World 30th Anniversary Night | Post-Game Skate with the Steel
Friday, November 11 at Madison Capitols (7:05 pm CT)
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