Steel drop 5-2 decision to Team USA
Evan Barratt and Graham Slaggert each tallied 2 goals to lead Team USA (U18) to a 5-2 victory over the Chicago Steel Saturday at Fox Valley Ice Arena. Josh Norris registered 3 assists for Team USA (13-18-1-1, 28 pts.) while Reggie Lutz recorded 2 points for the Steel (23-8-1-3, 50 pts.). A record-setting crowd of 2,156 fans attended Chicago Blackhawks Night, the Steel's largest crowd since relocating to Geneva prior to the 2015-2016 USHL season.
Chicago opened the scoring in the first period when Jake Jaremko sent a feed to Lutz at the high slot. Lutz then buried his 15th goal of the season, beating USA netminder Adam Scheel through the five hole at 7:29.
The visitors answered back at 13:38 when Nate Knoepke's shot from the left point was redirected by Barratt past Steel goaltender Ales Stezka's stick. The score remained tied, 1-1, at the first intermission, with USA leading in shots, 12-8.
Team USA gained the lead in the second period when Barratt scored again, this time on the power play. Max Gildon intercepted a Chicago clearing attempt at the left-wing half wall, fed the puck to the slot, and Barrett slapped a one-timer in at 15:28. Just a couple of minutes later, Grant Mismash fired a shot over Stezka's left shoulder for the eventual game-winner at 17:45. USA led 3-1 at the second intermission
Chicago started the third period on a carryover 5-on-3 power play. Reggie Lutz's shot from the right-wing circle bounced up at the top of the crease, and Jack Badini was there to bat the puck in for his team-leading 16th goal of the season. Johnny Walker registered the secondary assist on the goal scored at 0:35, as the Steel steered back within a goal.
USA then went back up by two when Graham Slaggert jammed in a rebound at 6:31.
In the game's final minute, and with Chicago's net empty in favor of an extra attacker, Brady Tkachuk forced a turnover at the USA blue line and fired the puck down the ice. Slaggert raced to beat out an icing call, and put the icing on the cake, scoring a backhanded empty net goal with 52 seconds remaining to secure the three-goal win.
Scheel made 26 saves in USA's first victory over Chicago this season. Each team went 1-for-5 on the power play. Chicago suffered a second consecutive regulation loss for just the second time this season.