OAK FOREST - The Chicago Crush Elite squad came into this weekend’s cross-town showdown with the Chicago Cougars looking to make a statement. And boy, did they ever. With a 3-0 shutout on Friday at the Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville and a 4-1 victory on Saturday at Orbit Ice Arena in Palatine, the Crush not only swept the series but also sent a clear message to their rivals: this is their town.
Friday Night: A Statement Chicago Crush Shutout
The Crush came out swinging on Friday, setting the tone early with a goal just 20 seconds into the game. Christopher Frachalla, the team’s leading scorer, buried his 11th of the season off a slick feed from Cole Darlas and Keith Watkins. From there, it was all Crush.
Johnny Augusta was a brick wall in net, turning aside all 40 shots he faced for his first shutout of the season. The Cougars threw everything they had at Augusta, especially in the second period when they outshot the Crush 21-17, but the netminder stood tall.
Jaeden Burnett added an insurance goal in the second, and Troy Naill capped it off with a power-play marker in the third. The Crush’s penalty kill was flawless, going 5-for-5, while their power play capitalized on one of four opportunities.
The game wasn’t without its chippy moments, though. Logan Landmeier and Cameron Twadell dropped the gloves in the third, resulting in game misconducts for both. But even with the extracurriculars, the Crush stayed disciplined and locked down the win.
Saturday Night: Depth Shines in 4-1 Victory
If Friday was about defense and goaltending, Saturday was a showcase of the Crush’s depth. Cole Darlas opened the scoring midway through the first, and Jack Martino—yes, that Jack Martino—netted his first goal of the season on the power play to give the Crush a 2-0 lead after one.
Joshua Yeates added a third goal early in the third, and Christopher Frachalla sealed the deal with an empty-netter late in the frame. The Cougars managed to break Daniel Gurtner’s shutout bid with a goal from Jakub Potoczny, but it was too little, too late.
The Crush’s penalty kill was once again stellar, killing off all five Cougars power plays. Meanwhile, their power play cashed in on one of five chances, continuing to show improvement in an area that’s been a work in progress this season.
Coach Bushbacher’s Take
Head Coach Phil Bushbacher was all smiles after the series sweep. “This was a complete team effort,” he said. “From Johnny standing on his head Friday to our depth guys stepping up Saturday, everyone contributed. We’ve been preaching discipline and attention to detail, and it paid off this weekend.”
When asked about the physicality of the series, Bushbacher chuckled. “It’s a rivalry game. Emotions run high. But I’m proud of how our guys kept their composure and stayed focused on the task at hand.”
Key Takeaways
Goaltending Dominance: Johnny Augusta and Daniel Gurtner combined to stop 76 of 77 shots over the two games. That’s elite-level goaltending.
Depth Scoring: Seven different players found the scoresheet for the Crush, including Jack Martino’s first goal of the season.
Special Teams: The Crush’s penalty kill was a perfect 10-for-10, and their power play went 2-for-9. Special teams win games, and the Crush proved that this weekend.
Physicality: The series had its fair share of scrums and fights, but the Crush never lost their cool.
Looking Ahead
With the sweep, the Crush improve to 23-7-2-0 on the season and extend their winning streak to six games. They’ll look to keep the momentum rolling as they see the Chicago Cougars again, this time outdoors at the Parkway Bank Park in Rosemont, Illinois and then head into a tough stretch of games against the Fort Wayne Spacemen.
One thing’s for sure: the Chicago hockey scene is alive and well, and the Crush are making noise. Buckle up, folks—this season is heating up. Catch all the action live on FloHockey.tv!
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