Men's Ice Hockey 11/5/2022 10:21:00 PM Chicago Steel

LATE COMEBACK FALLS SHORT AS STEEL DROP 6-5 DECISION

Emerson and Harvey each score twice for Chicago

GENEVA, ILLINOIS —The Madison Capitols (5-6-0-0; 10 pts.) scored three goals within a span of 32 second in the second period to surge ahead and held on for a 6-5 victory over the Chicago Steel (8-5-0-0; 16 pts.) Saturday night at Fox Valley Ice Arena in Geneva.

Michael Emerson and Jack Harvey each scored twice for the Steel, as Chicago mounted a furious comeback effort in the closing minutes which ultimately fell short.

Former Steel forward Quinn Finley scored a pair of goals for the Capitols and Matt McGroarty also added two tallies as Madison snapped a three-game losing streak.

Early on, the teams traded chances, but solid goaltending and smart defensive play kept the game scoreless.

Nathan Lewis, a Shorewood, Ill. native playing in front of a collection of family and friends, created a turnover at the Madison blue line and raced in on Steel goaltender Miles Roberts, making his first regular season appearance between the pipes. Steel defenseman Jake Livanavage prevented a shot on goal with a last moment lift of Lewis's stick.

Lewis would get his revenge late in the period. With just under three minutes remaining in the first, Madison's Nick Wallace took control of the puck behind his own net and skated down the left side and into the offensive zone before finding fed Lewis in the middle of the ice. Lewis controlled the past and unleashed a low wrister glove-side that beat Roberts for the game's first goal.

The Steel wasted no time finding the equalizer early in the second period. Just 18 seconds into the frame, Jack Harvey pestered Madison forward Andrew Kuzma into a turnover which came to Steel forward Jack Brandt below the goal line to the left of Madison goalie Mason Kucenski. Brandt quickly found Michael Emerson alone in front who put the puck past Kucenski to tie the game 1-1.

For the second night in a row, it was Chicago's penalty kill unit which gave the Steel a lift with a shorthanded goal.

With Madison on a power play, Madison forward Miko Matikka lost his footing at the blue line, pushing a flailing pass towards the net which was intercepted by Steel defenseman Hunter Hady. The Chicago defenseman quickly one-touched a pass to Michael Emerson who streaked up ice alone and beat Kucenski glove side, giving Chicago its first lead of the night.

The game quickly changed as the Capitols scored three goals within a span of 32 seconds in the middle of the second period.

It began with the Steel unable to clear the puck in their own zone. A Chicago pass was intercepted at the blue line by Matt McGroarty who quickly let go a writer that trickled over the goal line to tie the game 2-2.

Off the ensuing faceoff at center, Capitols defenseman Ethan Elias hit New York Islanders prospect Quinn Finley on a go pattern down the left side. Finley calmly received the pass as the Steel defender stumbled and beat Roberts with the backhand to give Madison a 3-2 lead.

Madison executed the same play off the next faceoff, but after Roberts turned aside this chance by Finley, Matikka was able to control the puck behind the Steel net. The Capitols forward found Sam Frandina in front who buried a one-timer to cap the scoring spree.

Finley was at it again at the start of the third. After a Steel turnover at the Madison blue line, Finley took a pass from Matikka and curled on Roberts from the left before neatly tucking the puck past his left pad for his second goal of the night and a 5-2 Capitols lead.

Madison's defense slowed the Steel for much of the third period, limiting the Steel to just one shot on goal in the first ten minutes. That didn't include Chris Delaney hitting the right post and Mick Thompson hitting the crossbar in a frustrating sequence for Chicago's offense.

The Steel got a lift with under eight minutes to play when Mick Thompson notched his seventh goal of the season off a feed from Jayden Perron to cut the lead to 5-3.

Less than 90 seconds later, McGroarty added his second goal of the night. As the Steel pressured in the offensive zone, McGroarty broke up a Chicago pass then was sprung on a breakaway by Nathan Lewis, finishing past Roberts.

A Jack Harvey goal just over a minute later gave the Steel life. Chris Delaney forced a Madison turnover deep in the Capitols zone and found Harvey who whipped a one-timer for his ninth goal of the season to make it 6-4.

After Madison killed a power play opportunity for Chicago, Harvey scored again, this time a laser from the left wing which cut the led to 6-5 with just 31 seconds remaining.

The Capitols were able to keep the puck in the Steel end as the last half-minute elapsed.

Next weekend, the Steel travel to Bob Suter's Capitol Ice Arena in Wisconsin on Friday, Nov. 11 game to take on the Madison Capitols before a Saturday, Nov. 12 contest against the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders at ImOn Ice Arena in Iowa.

The Steel return home for a pair of games against the Youngstown Phantoms on Friday, Nov. 18 and Saturday, Nov. 19. Friday, Nov. 18 is Superheroes Night and a Slumberland Family Pack Game with a great deal. Fans can get 4 Tickets, 4 Hot Dogs, 4 Chips, 4 Sodas or Waters and 4 Chuck-A-Pucks for just $50. Saturday, Nov. 19 is World Cup Night with a Vuvuzela Giveaway for the first 500 fans.

Tickets start at just $10 and are available by calling 855-51-STEEL, purchasing at ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com or visiting the Steel box office at Fox Valley Ice Arena during business hours.

All Chicago Steel tickets are digital and available on mobile devices. Fans should create their profile online by clicking here. For more information on digital tickets for the Chicago Steel, click here. Fans attending this weekend's games and all Steel home games this season are encouraged to purchase tickets prior to arriving at the arena to avoid any delays on game night.

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 11 at Madison Capitols (7:05 pm CT)
Saturday, November 12 at Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (7:05 pm CT)
Friday, November 18 vs. Youngstown Phantoms (7:05 pm CT) Superheroes Night | Slumberland Family Pack Game

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Players Mentioned

#3 Hunter Hady: D; 6' 4"; Uncommitted

#7 Jake Livanavage: D; 5' 11"; University of North Dakota

#10 Chris Delaney: F; 5' 6"; Umass-Amherst

#13 Jack Harvey: F; 5' 10"; Boston University

#14 Mick Thompson: F; 5' 8"; Harvard University

#18 Jayden Perron: F; 5' 9"; University of North Dakota

#23 Jack Brandt: F; 5' 10"; Uncommitted

#26 Michael Emerson: F; 6' 1"; Freshman

#30 Miles Roberts: G; 6' 1"; Uncommitted

Players Mentioned

#3 Hunter Hady
: 6' 4"; Uncommitted
: D

#7 Jake Livanavage
: 5' 11"; University of North Dakota
: D

#10 Chris Delaney
: 5' 6"; Umass-Amherst
: F

#13 Jack Harvey
: 5' 10"; Boston University
: F

#14 Mick Thompson
: 5' 8"; Harvard University
: F

#18 Jayden Perron
: 5' 9"; University of North Dakota
: F

#23 Jack Brandt
: 5' 10"; Uncommitted
: F

#26 Michael Emerson
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: F

#30 Miles Roberts
: 6' 1"; Uncommitted
: G