Steel wins at Muskegon in overtime
MUSKEGON, Mich. - Mitch Lewandowski took a cross-ice pass from Brannon McManus and blasted the puck to the back of the net with less than two minutes remaining in overtime and the Chicago Steel (29-10-1-3, 63 points) picked up a 3-2 victory over the Muskegon Lumberjacks (26-14-3-1, 56 points) Saturday night at L.C. Walker Arena. Jack Badini and Graham Lillibridge each registered two points for the Steel in the win.
Lewandowski's goal, coming after Muskegon tied the game late in regulation, secured Chicago's fourth straight road victory, and marked the forward's second game-winning goal of the weekend and fourth this season. The Steel were once again backed by strong goaltending. Ales Stezka stopped 28 of 30 shots to register his 17th victory of the season.
In the first of back-to-back meetings between two teams jockeying for playoff positioning in the USHL's Eastern Conference, the Lumberjacks struck first. Collin Adams received an outlet pass from Ty Farmer at Chicago's blue line for a breakaway chance and beat Steel netminder Ales Stezka down low on the glove side just 59 seconds into the first period. Despite the early goal against, Chicago played well in the period, outshooting Muskegon 11-4.
After sustained pressure early in the second period, the Steel were rewarded with a power play opportunity nearly halfway through the frame and took advantage. Jack Badini recorded his team-leading 20th goal of the season after Jake Jaremko sent a centering pass to his stick from behind the goal line for a wrist shot to tie the game at 10:04. Chicago took its first lead of the game a few minutes later when Badini flipped a pass to Marc Johnstone for a breakaway chance and Johnstone put a forehand shot through the five-hole of Muskegon goaltender Adam Brizgala at 13:14.
Chicago held off the Lumberjacks for most of the third period until Muskegon pulled their goalie for the extra attacker and was able to take advantage. With traffic in front of the Steel net, Garrett Van Wyhe found the puck at the edge of the crease and buried it past Stezka at 18:53, sending the game to overtime.
Muskegon went on the power play in overtime, but Chicago's top penalty killing unit in the USHL finished off a 3-for-3 short-handed night with a stellar defensive effort, including a terrific shot block by defenseman Adam Karashik, keeping the Steel alive for the eventual overtime winner.