General 9/29/2023 10:14:00 PM

Steel Fall 7-6 to Streaking Capitols Friday

Chicago can’t overcome deficit in back-and-forth loss to Madison

MIDDLETON, WI — After repeatedly drawing to within a goal, the Chicago Steel (1-2-0-0, 2 pts.) could not solve the buzzing Madison Capitols (3-0-0-0, 6 pts.) in a bruising 7-6 battle at Bob Suter's Capitol Ice Arena on Friday night.

Finn Brink scored a hat trick for Madison in the opening period, while six different Steel skaters tallied goals.

Chicago had an excellent chance to score just seconds into the game, but Capitols goaltender Carsen Musser shut things down for the time being.

Following the initial push from Chicago, the Capitols pushed back with authority and got on the board first early in the contest.

After some established zone time, Caps forward Finn Brink fired a wicked wrist shot from the left circle over the shoulder of Steel goaltender Christian Manz to open the scoring.

Chicago remained persistent and, just over a minute later, brought the game back to a deadlock.

The Capitols started up ice on solid breakout, but the Steel created a turnover, springing Grayden Slipec and Jordan Brisson on the rush. A shot from the right side bounced around the slot, but luckily found its way to defenseman Reid Conn, who fired his second goal of the year into the back of the net.

Madison's high-powered offense could not be contained, scoring the tie-breaking goal two minutes later. Brink was the goal scorer once again for Madison.

Playing in his first season in the league, forward Lukas Sawchyn yanked the tug-of-war rope back towards the Steel side with his first career USHL goal. The goal was a pretty one for the Canadian forward, a heavy snapshot from the low slot that was perfectly placed.

Joey DelGreco and Hans-Martin Ulvebne added assists on the tying goal.

As they had done before, the Capitols again grabbed their lead back shortly after giving it up.

Forty seconds after surrendering their lead, Brink scored once again to secure the hat trick in the first period of play. An incredibly impressive feat to put Madison back on top, 3-2.

With three minutes left in the period, Andrew Kuzma added one more goal to the Caps' count while on the power play to extend their lead to two. Brink had an assist on the goal to bring his point total to four on the night after only 20 minutes.

After a rocky end to the first period, Chicago came out firing and saw its efforts pay off just over a minute into the second frame.

Thanks to a solid forecheck, Michael Hage was able to work his way around the Capitols' end, cut to the net, and fire a shot by Musser to knock the deficit to one. Ben Yurchuk notched a helper, his second of the year, as did Thor Byfuglien, his first.

As they had all first period, Madison stepped on the gas immediately after giving up a goal, scoring twice in 1:09 to bound out to a 6-3 lead. Christopher Delaney, who played the last two seasons with the Steel, scored the fifth goal of the night for Madison.

With four minutes left in the middle frame, the Steel offered another reply, this one courtesy of Tobias Ohman, his first goal of the season. Brisson notched his second assist of the night, and Sawchyn added an assist alongside his goal to cut the deficit to 6-4 heading into the third.

The first two periods saw both teams exchange heavy blows, so it was a surprise to see a slow start to the third period of play.

Four and a half minutes into the final frame of regulation, the Steel caught a break after the Capitols were called for too many men on the ice, and they didn't let the opportunity to slip by.

Thirty-nine seconds into their third power play of the night, Charlie Major put one by the netminder for his second goal of the season, his first being an OT GWG, to put the Steel right back into the thick of it.

Byfuglien had another assist on the PPG, along with Owen Tylec.

Sensing the pressure, the Capitols kept Chicago at bay, and later extended their lead to two goals for the third time of the night.

Two minutes past the halfway point of the third, Andrew Kuzma scored his team-leading fourth goal of the year to make it a 7-5 Capitols lead.

Chicago pulled Manz for an extra attacker with just over two minutes to play, and received a temporary shot to the arm.

In a 6-on-5 with an empty net, Joey DelGreco found Michael Hagens for his first goal of the season that made it a 7-6 game with 1:12 to play.

Chicago again pulled Manz after the goal, and came incredibly close to tying the game, but couldn't find the tying goal.

Despite the loss, Steel goaltender Christian Manz maintained his strong image from the crease, making 35 saves on 42 shots. Most of the opportunities Manz faced were in close, including a handful of cross-crease stops for the agile goalie.

Joey DelGreco, Jordan Brisson, and Thor Byfuglien all had two assists in the loss.

Finn Brink, who scored a hat trick in the opening period for the Caps, finished the night as the leading scorer with four points. Kuzma followed William Felicio had three points in the win for Madison.

The Steel will return home to Fox Valley Ice Arena for Opening Night on Saturday, Sept. 30 with puck drop scheduled for 6:05 pm CT. The first 500 fans will receive a 2023-2024 magnet schedule courtesy of Teqworks. Tickets are on sale now.

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:
Saturday, September 30 vs. Muskegon Lumberjacks (6:05 pm CT) Opening Night | Magnet Schedule Giveaway | Full Team Post-Game Autographs
Friday, October 6 at Youngstown Phantoms (6:05 pm CT)
Saturday, October 7 at Muskegon Lumberjacks (6:10 pm CT)

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Players Mentioned

#8 Grayden Slipec: F; 5' 10"; University of North Dakota

#11 Michael Hagens: D; 5' 11"; Harvard University

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

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

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

#25 Thor Byfuglien: D; 6' 0"; St. Cloud State 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

#23 Tobias Ohman: Forward; 5' 8"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#8 Grayden Slipec
: 5' 10"; University of North Dakota
: F

#11 Michael Hagens
: 5' 11"; Harvard University
: D

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

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

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

#25 Thor Byfuglien
: 6' 0"; St. Cloud State University
: D

#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

#23 Tobias Ohman
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: Forward