General 3/24/2024 6:37:00 PM

Chicago Held in Check in 5-1 Loss to Dubuque

Fighting Saints score five straight goals as Steel fall for first time in five games

GENEVA, IL — A three-goal first period and two power play goals from Dubuque in the second pushed the road team to an insurmountable lead as the Chicago Steel (25-24-3-4, 57 pts.) fell to the Dubuque Fighting Saints (37-12-3-3, 80 pts.) 5-1 at Fox Valley Ice Arena Sunday afternoon.

Owen Tylec scored the only Steel goal in the loss, his fourth of the season. Goaltender Louka Cloutier made 29 saves in defeat.

Despite the loss, Chicago's magic number to clinch a playoff berth was reduced to eight with Cedar Rapids falling to Green Bay Sunday. Chicago leads Cedar Rapids by four points for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with six games remaining in the season.

Dubuque's high-powered offense, which entered Sunday's contest averaging almost five goals per game, scored just 48 seconds into the game when James Reeder fed a pass into the slot to Noah Powell who potted his 35^th goal of the season.

The road team added another tally at 4:41 of the opening frame on a nice play from Juraj Pekarcik, who made a pass from below the icing line to Beckett Hendrickson to extend the Fighting Saints lead.

The Fighting Saints stayed on the trail and added their third goal before the halfway point of the first. After working the puck free, Nick Romeo moved around the back of the net and sent a pass to defenseman Luke Malboeuf who crept in from the blue line and one-timed a shot past Cloutier to make it 3-0.

Two Dubuque power play goals in the second period put the game out of reach.

The Steel were assessed a penalty 57 seconds into the second frame, and the league's top power play unit took less than a minute to capitalize, as Jake Sondreal found Lucas St. Louis alone at the right faceoff dot for a one-timer to make it 4-0.

Later in the period, Dubuque's man advantage went to work and St. Louis again found an opening at the right circle and released a quick wrister over the glove of Cloutier, making it 5-0.

The Steel managed to break the shutout bid late in the third period when a Reid Conn shot rattled around the crease before Tylec shoveled it into the open net.

The late goal was all Dubuque would surrender in the 5-1 win.

Chicago will take to the road next and face the Green Bay Gamblers on Friday, March 29 at 7:05 pm CT and Saturday, March 30 at 6:05 pm CT.

The next home game for Chicago is Friday, April 5 at 7:05 pm CT on 80's Night presented by Go Brewing with a Solar Eclipse Glasses Giveaway to the first 500 fans when the Steel host Dubuque.

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 a limited time, fans can take advantage of the team's Ticket Plan Madness promotion to receive free regular season and playoff games for this season plus other benefits when signing up for a new ticket plan for the 2024-2025 season. Ticket plans start at just 5 games for $50.

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

Chicago Steel Upcoming Schedule presented by Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush:
Friday, March 29 at Green Bay Gamblers (7:05 pm CT)
Saturday, March 30 at Green Bay Gamblers (6:05 pm CT)
Friday, April 5 vs. Dubuque Fighting Saints (7:05 pm CT) | 80's Night presented by Go Brewing | Solar Eclipse Glasses Giveaway (first 500 fans)

###

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

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

#24 Owen Tylec: Forward; 5' 10"; Freshman

#1 Louka Cloutier: Goaltender; 6' 1"; Freshman; University of Nebraska-Omaha

Players Mentioned

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

#24 Owen Tylec
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: Forward

#1 Louka Cloutier
: 6' 1"; Freshman; University of Nebraska-Omaha
: Goaltender

Players Mentioned

#16 Reid Conn

#24 Owen Tylec

#1 Louka Cloutier

Players Mentioned

#16 Reid Conn

#24 Owen Tylec

#1 Louka Cloutier