BENSENVILLE, Ill – The Tri-City Storm defeated the Chicago Steel 4-1. Friday night’s Storm victory inches them closer to clinching a playoff berth in the West Division. Mistakes placed a cloud on the Steel’s chances of earning a playoff berth in the East.
Team objectives were clear coming into Friday night’s game pitting the Tri-City Storm against the Chicago Steel. The visiting 25-20 Storm want to continue their steady play on defense and at the net. They’re almost guaranteed a playoff berth in the West. Conversely, the 20-23 Chicago Steel are battling time and mistakes in their quest to reach a playoff berth in the East. Goaltending has been their strong suit; with Connor Wilson earning the USHL Goaltender of the Week distinction last week. The Steel won both games in their first two meetings of the year. Both played in Kearny.
The game began with great end to end action. Goaltenders Wilson (Steel) and Chubak (Storm) were spectacular. Credit Carsen Chubak with a great pad save on a tip in attempt by Steel forward Darik Angeli. Minutes later the Storm took the lead on a right side wrister by Radoslav Illo. His first of two goals scored for the the night. Give assists to Tardy and DeCenzo, 1-0 Storm at 6:44.
The Steel’s puck control game began to unwind. Giveaways have been a steady problem for Steel’s coach Steve Poabst squad since the second quarter of the season. Less than one minute later, the Storm’s Kenny Brooks capitalized with a takeaway goal right in front of the Steel net. Brooks’ unassisted goal made it 2-0 Storm at 7:29 in the first period. Credit Connor Wilson with keeping the game close with two tremendous saves near the end of the first period. This included a pad stop on a takeaway attempt by the Storm’s Cody Murphy. 2-0 Storm at the end of the first period.
Tremendous goaltending took center stage during the second period. Five minutes into the second period, Steel goalie Wilson spread wide to stifle a tip in attempt by the Storm’s Matt Johnson. Less than a minute later, Storm goalie Carsen Chubak put a stop on a breakaway attempt by the Steel’s Theo DePauli. He followed five minutes later with glove save on a tip-in attempt by the Steel’s Cody Murphy. During a Storm powerplay, Connor Wilson made a great pad save on a wrister shot attempt by the Storm’s Radoslav Illo. Following a two man Storm powerplay advantage, the Steel countered with offensive pressure of their own. Darik Angeli put the Steel on the board with a tip-in during a 2 on 1 break late in the second period at 18:54. Credit Andrei Kuchin with an assist. 2-1 Storm at the end of the second period.
Going into the third period, could the Steel carry the momentum that began late in the second period? Or would mistakes continue to make things difficult? The answer was given quickly. At 15:41, the Steel’s Mark Adams was called for tripping. The Storm quickly took advantage when Radoslav Illo scored a powerplay goal. This was his second goal of the game, with assists by Tyler Amburgey and Brett Mohler, 3-1 Storm.
Five minutes later, credit Steel goalie Connor Wilson with making a tremendous pad save on a tip in attempt by Maxwell Tardy. Wilson’s mobility at net has been one of the few bright spots for the Steel since the start of the second half of the season. Unfortunately for the Steel, player mistakes have dominated the team’s struggle to get into the playoffs. The final minute of the game best exemplifies this. Trailing 3-1 with one minute to go in the third, the Steel pulled goaltender Wilson. During the man advantage, the Steel passed outside to Mark Adams at the blueline. Adams whiffed on his slapshot attempt. The Storm’s Matt Johnson scooped up the puck and skated in to the Steel’s empty net and scored an unassisted goal at 19:10, 4-1 Storm.
The game ended with a 4-1 Storm victory. As Storm head coach stated, “We’ve been doing what’s best for the team. Older players like Anthony DeCenzo have provided us with the mature, team play that we need”. Shot totals: 38 for Chicago; 24 for Tri-City. The Storm now have a 26-20-6 record. The Steel are now at 20-24-5.
Contact the writer at TOM.MILLER@PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM
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