GENEVA, IL — Brent Solomon broke a 2-2 tie in the third period and the Sioux Falls Stampede (13-6-1-0, 27 pts.) added an empty-net goal to defeat the Chicago Steel (10-9-1-0, 21 pts.) 4-2 Saturday night at Fox Valley Ice Arena.
Sioux Falls scored three of its four goals Saturday on the power play in sweeping the two-game weekend series with a pair of close victories.
Timo Kazda and James Scantlebury scored for Chicago. Louis-Felix Charrois stopped 36 shots in defeat.
The Steel were whistled for a penalty early in the first period, but the Chicago penalty kill limited Sioux Falls opportunities leading to an early kill.
Sioux Falls registered nine of the first 11 shots on goal including two wrist shots from the right circle by Logan Renkowski which were fought off by Charrois.
The Stampede earned their second power play later in the opening frame and capitalized when Joseph McGraw connected from below the left circle on a pretty passing play with Thomas Zocco and J.J. Montero.
Chicago had its best chances of the period on the next shift when Kazda, Ashton Schultz and Luke Goukler created a pair of opportunities that were turned aside by Stampede goaltender Lindards Feldbergs.
A tripping call sent the Steel to their first power play of the game with just over four minutes remaining in the period. The advantage was quickly negated with a high sticking call against Chicago just 18 seconds into the power play.
As time wound down in the first period, Charrois denied Cooper Soller on the doorstep, spinning around to secure the puck in his chest just shy of the goal line.
Sioux Falls outshot Chicago 18-6 in the opening frame.
The Steel came out with a renewed energy to open the second period and found the back of the net 3:32 into the period.
Kazda led a rush up the left side, dropping for Nate Chorlton and driving to the net. Chorlton rewarded his teammate with a pass to the tape which Kazda deposited past Feldbergs to tie the game at 1-1.
Charrios had a pair of strong saves over the first half of the frame, denying Joseph Macrina and later Juno Keinanen.
The Steel had a power play opportunity with just over five minutes left in the period which featured a flurry of one-timers that were turned aside by Feldbergs.
A holding penalty against Chicago put Sioux Falls on the power play with just over two minutes remaining in the period. After a long pass from Feldbergs, Brent Solomon fired a shot from the right point that was stopped, but Renkowski secured the rebound and put it through the legs of Charrois to give Sioux Falls a 2-1 lead.
The Stampede took a 30-20 lead in shots into the final frame.
After killing off a Sioux Falls power play early in the third period, the Steel earned their own power play after sustained offensive pressure led to a Stampede penalty.
On the ensuing power play, Scantlebury followed up the rebound of a Cole Tumminaro shot for his fifth goal of the season, tying the game at 2-2. Schultz picked up an assist on the goal.
A Steel penalty after the whistle put Sioux Falls on the power play with just over eight minutes remaining in regulation. Six seconds into the man advantage, Brent Solomon snapped a wrist-shot past Charrois to put Sioux Falls back in front, 3-2.
The Steel pulled Charrois with just under two minutes remaining in regulation. Sioux Falls iced the game when Brock Schultz tapped in an empty netter to send Chicago to its fifth consecutive defeat.
Chicago heads to the road this coming week for three games starting Wednesday, Nov. 26 for a Thanksgiving Eve matchup against the Green Bay Gamblers. The Steel will continue on to Fargo to take on the Force for two matchups, Fri. Nov. 28 and Sat. Nov. 29.
The Steel will return home on Friday, December 5 to host the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders at 7:05 pm as the team celebrates the 25th Anniversary of How the Grinch Stole Christmas with How Rusty Stole Christmas, presented by The Learning Experience.
For just $55, fans can purchase the Steel Holiday Plan and receive one ticket to three Steel games, including Chicago Blackhawks Night, plus one ticket to a select Chicago Blackhawks home game.
For a limited time, Steel Suites are on sale for just $30 per person (min. 12 tickets) when purchased online. This offer is valid for November and December home games, excluding Dec. 27.
For more information, call 855-51-STEEL or visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.
Chicago Steel Upcoming Schedule presented by Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush:
Wednesday, November 26 at Green Bay Gamblers (7:05 pm CT)
Friday, November 28 at Fargo Force (7:05 pm CT)
Saturday, November 29 at Fargo Force (6:05 pm CT)
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