Steel move into tie for first place

SIOUX CITY, IOWA - Brannon McManus and Eduards Tralmaks each recorded one goal, and goaltender Ales Stezka stopped 23 shots, as the Chicago Steel (26-10-1-3, 56 pts.) fought to a 2-1 victory over the Sioux City Musketeers (24-9-5-2, 55 pts.) at Tyson Events Center. Wyatt Aamodt registered two assists. Following the win, Chicago moves into a tie with Dubuque for first place in the Eastern Conference.

The Steel took advantage of the first period's lone power play. Tralmaks fired a shot from the left wing, bouncing the puck off Sioux City defenseman Keegan Mantaro's skate. The redirected wrister beat Musketeers netminder Todd Scott on the glove side at 14:48, with McManus and Aamodt earning assists on the play. Chicago carried the 1-0 lead into the first intermission while being outshot, 6-5, in the period.

McManus and Tralmaks teamed up to double Chicago's lead in the second period. Tralmaks dished a pass from behind the Sioux City net, connecting to McManus in the low slot, just outside of the left circle. McManus quickly fired a shot past Scott's blocker at 15:51. Aamodt recorded the secondary assist.

The Musketeers cut Chicago's lead in half in the third period when Kristian Pospisil sent a low shot through Stezka's five-hole at 11:08.

With Chicago's Aamodt and Badini in the box, and Sioux City's Scott on the bench in favor of an extra attacker, the Musketeers ended up with a 6-on-3 advantage in the game's closing minute and a half. Multiple Steel players, including defenseman Adam Karashik, blocked shots late in the game, and Stezka fought hard to keep the puck from entering the net, as the Steel held on for a narrow, one-goal triumph.

Stezka's win was his 15th of the season. Chicago sweeps the season series, 2-0-0-0, against Sioux City. The Steel were outshot, 24-21. Chicago finished the game 1-for-3 on the power play and 4-for-4 on the penalty kill.