General 11/4/2023 10:44:00 PM

Chicago Triumphs with Overtime Win Over Gamblers

GENEVA, IL — For the first time since September 21, the Chicago Steel (2-8-1-1) recorded a win as Anthony Cardilli scored an overtime game-winner to defeat the Green Bay Gamblers (9-5-1-0) 1-0 at Fox Valley Ice Arena on Saturday night.

Cardilli's goal was his second in three games and his third point in as many games. Steel goaltender Christian Manz posted his first shutout of the season, stopping all 27 shots to record his second win of the year.

The Steel earned three of a possible four points in the weekend series with Green Bay while stopping a ten-game losing streak Saturday night.

After a perfect night on the power play on Friday night, Green Bay went to the advantage two minutes into the action.

The best offensive chance on the power play came from the shorthanded Steel when Charlie Major created a turnover at the blue line. In on a breakaway with a defenseman on his back, Major endured a handful of stick checks from the trailing Gambler and couldn't get a clean shot away.

Following the conclusion of its power play, Green Bay spent a heavy chunk of time still in the attacking end with a handful of close calls around the crease, but Steel goaltender Christian Manz picked up where he left off from Friday night with some tough stops from dangerous spots.

The Steel killed the penalty and later on, saw another chance to score with a two-on-one with Lukas Sawchyn and Michael Hage.

Sawchyn skated in on the far side and fired a pass across to Hage, but it was just beyond the outstretched stick of the Michigan commit.

Hage got his chance to break the scoreless tie shortly after when he dragged and shot from just above the faceoff circles, aiming high blocker, but Steel goaltender Adam Gajan met the shot at the top of his paint, squeezing it between the six hole to keep it out.

Chicago received a power play at the back end of the opening period, but the Gamblers were successful in keeping the Steel off the board.

At even strength, the Steel again found a perfect chance to score when Joey DelGreco was sprung on a breakaway, but Gajan, almost expectedly with how well he'd been playing, made the stop with the glove to turn the Steel away once more.

The middle frame wasn't quite as offensive-minded until the 6:30 mark when Green Bay saw its best chance of the night.

The Steel had a great offensive chance, but a pass back to the blue line missed everyone and instead found Misha Danylov who just came in off a line change.

Danylov had a full zone of clearance behind him on a breakaway, but Manz made a five-hole save by trapping the puck under his pad for a ten-bell stop.

After the save, two Gamblers poked at the puck under Manz's pad, which created a large ruckus. The officials separated the parties and Steel defenseman Reid Conn was assessed a gross misconduct penalty.

With just over a minute left in the period, the Gamblers nearly received a gift-wrapped goal on an open chance on the near post with Manz down, but Jayson Shaugabay's shot missed the wide-open net, bouncing off the outside of the cage harmlessly into the corner.

The Gamblers maintained possession and worked to capitalize on the close call, but Manz settled in and made a bundle of stops after scrambling back into the net.

Offsetting roughing calls were made five minutes into the third period for four-on-four action, and the Gamblers put forth the first big shot from just above the right circle, but Manz answered with an authoritative blocker save.

Right after the halfway point, a rare misplay from Gajan gave Anthony Cardilli the chance to sweep the puck in, but Gajan miraculously recovered and made another sprawled-out pad save.

Ben Yurchuk nearly scored his third goal of the season on a ripped wrist shot late in the period, but Gajan shrugged it off to add to his long list of clutch saves during the weekend.

For the second consecutive night and the third straight home game, the contest went to overtime with the Steel taking a man advantage into the extra frame after Jordan Brisson took a stick in the chin to yield a double-minor.

It took 62:43 to finally see a break through, but it came in favor of the home team.

With power play time dwindling, DelGreco fired a shot that rattled around the crease and wound up behind Gajan. Cardilli poked the loose puck across the goal line to give Chicago its first win in ten games. Yurchuk had an assist on the overtime game-winner.

Christian Manz once again posted a goaltending masterclass, stopping all 27 shots he saw to notch his first shutout of the season and second of his USHL career.

It's the first win for the Steel since it won the season opener, a 3-2 overtime win against the Sioux City Musketeers on Sept. 21 at the Fall Classic.

Next weekend, the Steel head to the road for a matchup with the Madison Capitols on Friday, November 10 followed by a road meeting with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders on Friday, November 17.

Chicago will return home for a two-game set with the Youngstown Phantoms on Saturday, November 18 at 7:05 pm and Sunday, November 19 at 3:05 pm. Saturday is an Education Game while Sunday is Trolls Day with a special guest appearance from Poppy and a Steel Family Pack Game. Fans can get four tickets, hot dogs, chips, sodas/waters and chuck-a-pucks for just $60.

Single game tickets are on sale now starting at just $10. All Steel tickets are digital and fans are encouraged to purchase online in advance at ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.

For more information, call 855-51-STEEL or visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.

Chicago Steel Upcoming Schedule presented by Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush:
Friday, November 10 at Madison Capitols (7:05 pm CT)
Friday, November 17 at Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (7:05 pm CT)
Saturday, November 18 vs. Youngstown Phantoms (7:05 pm CT) | Education Game

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Players Mentioned

#12 Jordan Brisson: F; 6' 1"; Colorado College

#19 Michael Hage: F; 6' 0"; Uncommitted

#20 Charlie Major: F; 5' 10"; Cornell University

#35 Christian Manz: G; 6' 0"; Augustana University

#10 Joey DelGreco: Forward; 5' 10"; Freshman; Augustana University

#16 Reid Conn: Defense; 6' 5"; Freshman; University of New Hampshire

#17 Ben Yurchuk: Forward; 5' 9"; Freshman; Northeastern University

#21 Anthony Cardilli: Forward; 6' 3"; Freshman; St. Cloud State University

Players Mentioned

#12 Jordan Brisson
: 6' 1"; Colorado College
: F

#19 Michael Hage
: 6' 0"; Uncommitted
: F

#20 Charlie Major
: 5' 10"; Cornell University
: F

#35 Christian Manz
: 6' 0"; Augustana University
: G

#10 Joey DelGreco
: 5' 10"; Freshman; Augustana University
: Forward

#16 Reid Conn
: 6' 5"; Freshman; University of New Hampshire
: Defense

#17 Ben Yurchuk
: 5' 9"; Freshman; Northeastern University
: Forward

#21 Anthony Cardilli
: 6' 3"; Freshman; St. Cloud State University
: Forward