GENEVA, ILLINOIS — Quinn Finley scored on a breakaway goal late in the third period to break a 4-4 tie and lead the Steel to a 5-4 victory in Game 2 of the Eastern Conferene Semifinals series against the Dubuque Fighting Saints Sunday at Fox Valley Ice Arena. The Steel swept the best-of-three series and will now face the Youngstown Phantoms in the best-of-five Eastern Conference Final starting Friday, May 5 in Geneva.
In a wild back-and-forth contest, the game was tied four times before Finley's goal as Chicago battled for the sweep and Dubuque furiously attempted to keep its season alive.
Dubuque opened the scoring less than two minutes into the opening frame. Nils Juntorp had a chance that was saved by Steel goaltender Christian Manz, but Riley Stuart pounced on the rebound and lifted it past Manz for an early Fighting Saints lead.
Two minutes later, the Steel struck back with an equalizer. Jake Livanvage collected his own cross-ice pass at the point that had traveled around the boards to the right point. Livanavage connected with Nolan Joyce on the opposite side of the blue line for a one-timer that traveled through traffic and above Dubuque goaltender Marcus Brannman's shoulders for Joyce's first career playoff goal.
A half-minute later, the Steel took a 2-1 lead. Chris Delaney applied pressure below the goal line leading to a turnover which bounced to Charlie Major in the slot. Major spun and scooped the puck past Brannman's glove for his first career postseason goal.
With just over five minutes remaining in the period, Dubuque tied on a power play. The Fighting Saints cycled along the near boards of the offensive zone, tiring the Steel defenders. Max Burkholder played catch with Owen Michaels below the goal line before Michaels connected with Max Montes in the slot. Montes released a one-timer that snuck past Manz' right arm.
The Steel outshot Dubuque 14-7 in the opening frame.
The second period featured more of the same back-and-forth as the first period with a flurry of activity in the final three minutes of the frame.
The pendulum swung Chicago's way when Charlie Major slithered into the offensive zone with Cameron Johnson trailing. Major shuffled past a Dubuque defender, forcing a two-on-one with Johnson trailing down the left side. Major connected with Johnson who fired a wrister past a diving Brannman.
With less than three minutes left in the second period, Dubuque tied the game at three. Gavin Cornforth carried the puck into the offensive zone along the near boards and tried to connect with Jayden Jubenvill, but the puck bounced through his legs. Fortunately for the Fighting Saints, Jake Sondreal was there to collect the puck in the left circle, and he soared a shot past Manz.
On the ensuing faceoff at center ice, a slashing penalty put Chicago on the power play. A minute into the man advantage, Nick Moldenhauer found Mick Thompson in the left circle with a cross-ice pass through traffic. Thompson quickly found Michael Emerson on the doorstep who tipped the puck in under Brannman's left pad for his first career playoff goal and a brief 4-3 Steel lead.
Dubuque tied 40 seconds later. Max Burkholder burst into the neutral zone with Montes in tow. Burkholder connected with Montes in the left circle who returned the puck. Burkholder stickhandled before releasing a shot that traveled past Manz, blocker side.
Both teams played a tight game in the third period, before Chicago got the chance it needed.
Following a board battle in the defensive zone, Jayden Perron skated away with the puck, lifting a high pass out of the zone down the middle of the ice to a streaking Quinn Finley in the neutral zone. Finley burst into the offensive zone, stickhandled and fired with Brannman getting a piece before the puck bounced above his glove and into the back of the net. It was Finley's sixth career playoff goal.
With 2:17 left in regulation, Dubuque pulled Brannman but Chicago's defense limited the opportunities for Dubuque, shutting the door on the comeback attempt.
The Steel will take on the Youngstown Phantoms in the best-of-five Eastern Conference Final starting with the first two games at home, Friday and Saturday, May 5 and 6, before the series shifts to Youngstown for Games 3 & 4 (if necessary) on Monday and Tuesday, May 8 and 9. If there is a Game 5, it would be played at the Fox Valley Ice Arena on Thursday, May 11.
Eastern Conference Final tickets are now on sale and may be purchased at the Steel Box Office at Fox Valley Ice Arena, by phone at 855-51-STEEL or online at ChicagoSteelHockeyteam.com. Fans with questions should email info@ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com to learn more.
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 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 for the 2023-2024 season are now on sale starting at just 5 games for just $50.
Upcoming Schedule presented by Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush:
Eastern Conference Final – Best-of-Five
#1 Steel vs. #2 Youngstown
Game 1: YNG at Steel - Friday, May 5, 7:05 pm at Fox Valley Ice Arena
Game 2: YNG at Steel - Saturday, May 6, 7:05 pm at Fox Valley Ice Arena
Game 3: Steel at YNG- Monday, May 8 at 6:05 pm at Covelli Centre
Game 4 (if necessary): Steel at YNG- Tuesday, May 9 at 6:05 pm at Covelli Centre
Game 5 (if necessary): YNG at Steel - Thursday, May 11, 7:05 pm at Fox Valley Ice Arena
All times CST
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