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Three quick goals power Steel past USA

PLYMOUTH, Mich. - Jack Badini, Derek Daschke and Tyler Gratton broke a 1-1 tie with three goals in a 99-second frame early in the third period to lead the first-place Chicago Steel (16-4-1-1, 34 pts.) to a 4-1 triumph over Team USA U18 (5-11-1-0, 11 pts.) Saturday at USA Hockey Arena. Ales Stezka made 30 saves to record his second win in as many nights.

In the first period, the two teams combined for 10 penalty minutes, but neither squad was able to convert on the power play. The game remained scoreless at the first intermission, with Team USA tripling the Steel in shots, 12-4.

The Steel opened up the scoring in the second period when defenseman Adam Karashik fired a wrist shot from the right point. The puck flew past slot traffic in and landed in the back of net, as Karashik tallied his second goal of the season at 5:21.

The game became tied, 1-1, just prior to the second intermission. Team USA's Tyler Inamoto redirected a centering feed from Evan Barratt, sending the puck past Stezka's stick with 1:04 remaining in the frame.

Chicago came out flying in the third period. Badini broke the tie when he rushed down the ice to the left wing side and fired a wrister from the left wing dot past Adam Scheel at 5:43. Just 35 seconds later, Daschke tallied his first goal after being acquired one week ago from the Muskegon Lumberjacks. Chicago then put the icing on the cake when Gratton registered his second point of the night, firing a shot from the slot over USA netminder Adam Scheel's shoulder at 7:22.

The Steel have won four of their last five games, including victories this weekend at Youngstown and Team USA.

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