Dickerson notches first career goal in Steel win
SIOUX CITY, IOWA - Forward Marcus Dickerson's goal in his first career USHL game proved to be the game-winner as the Chicago Steel (5-1-0-0, 10 pts.) defeated the Sioux City Musketeers (2-4-0-0, 4 pts.) by a score of 5-3 on Friday night at Tyson Events Center.
Chicago forward Robert Mastrosimone scored in his second consecutive game and Steel goaltender Oskar Autio stopped 41 shots in the contest as Chicago won its fourth straight game.
The Steel drew first blood as they have done in each of the first six contests this season. Forward Baker Shore sent a one-timer into the back of the net on a power play for his third goal of the season just past the halfway mark of the first period. Defenseman Graham Lillibridge and forward Blake McLaughlin picked up assists on the marker.
The Musketeers tied the game up at one with just over four minutes remaining in the period as a shot from forward Randy Hernandez trickled by Autio. Chicago quickly restored its one goal lead with 2:25 remaining in the frame with a wraparound goal from forward Aaro Vidgren for his fourth tally on the year.
Mastrosimone's goal came in the second period when the Boston University commit capitalized on a turnover, picking up the puck in the high slot and sliding the puck past Sioux City netminder Ben Kraws after some quick stickhandling in front.
Musketeers forward Cole Koepke responded with a pair of goals in the latter half of the second period to tie the game, first scoring a shot from the right circle and later going top shelf on Autio from the high slot.
In the third, it was Dickerson who broke the tie, burying a rebound at the top of the Sioux City crease at 7:26 of the third period to put the Steel ahead for good.
The remainder of regulation was chippy as a total of 13 penalties were doled out by the officials to the two teams, starting at the 12:27 mark. The Steel fought through a Sioux City power play of more than three minutes near the end of regulation, and Derek Dashke's 180-foot empty net goal with 17 seconds left in regulation sealed the win.
The Musketeers outshot the Steel by a 44-31 margin. The Chicago power play went 1-for-3 on the night while the penalty kill foiled all four of Sioux City's man advantages.
The Steel remain tied with Team USA (5-0-0-0) for first place in the Eastern Conference standings with 10 points each.