OAK FOREST - The Chicago Crush Elite squad rolled into the Decatur Civic Center this past weekend and left no doubt about who rules the roost in this division rivalry. In a pair of games that combined skill, physicality, and a whole lot of chirping, the Crush skated away with a commanding 4-0 shutout on Saturday and a 6-2 drubbing on Sunday. If there was any question about the Crush’s dominance over the Decatur Blaze, this series answered it with authority.
Game 1: Chicago Crush Blank Blaze in a Goaltending Masterclass
Saturday’s opener was a clinic in defensive hockey and opportunistic scoring. Johnny Augusta, the Crush’s brick wall between the pipes, turned aside all 31 shots he faced, earning his first shutout of the season. Augusta was calm, composed, and downright surgical in his positioning, snuffing out any hope the Blaze had of getting on the board.
The Crush offense, meanwhile, was relentless. Keith Watkins led the charge with a pair of goals, including the game-winner early in the second period. Hammad Khan notched his first of the season, and Logan Landmeier capped off the scoring with a third-period tally. The Crush outshot the Blaze 61-31, a staggering disparity that underscored their control of the game.
The Blaze, to their credit, tried to mix it up physically, racking up 31 penalty minutes, including a game misconduct to Doss Holloway for a late-game scrap with Jaeden Burnett. But the Crush’s discipline and special teams held firm, killing off all eight power plays and keeping the Blaze’s offense in check.
Game 2: Guida’s Hat Trick Fuels Another Crush Win
If Saturday was a defensive showcase, Sunday was all about Alex Guida. The Crush forward exploded for a hat trick, including the game-winning goal just 90 seconds into the second period. Guida’s performance was a masterclass in finishing, as he capitalized on every opportunity to bury the puck past Blaze netminder Aymen Eljaji.
The Crush didn’t waste any time setting the tone, jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the first period thanks to goals from Guida and Connor Edwards. The Blaze briefly showed signs of life with a power-play marker from Davin Hynek, but the Crush responded with three unanswered goals in the second period to put the game out of reach.
Daniel Gurtner, making his start in net for the Crush, was solid with 20 saves, though he didn’t face the same barrage Augusta did the night before. The Crush defense was once again airtight, limiting the Blaze to just 22 shots on goal.
The game wasn’t without its fireworks, though. A third-period melee involving Ioannis Beldecos and Eli Clark resulted in both players getting tossed, and the Blaze’s Alan Faulkner Jr. and Tyler Mason were disqualified in the final minutes after a scrum that saw Brandon Adolfino also get the gate. The Crush, however, kept their composure and closed out the game with a late goal from Joshua Yeates to seal the 6-2 victory.
Key Takeaways
Depth Scoring Shines: The Crush got contributions up and down the lineup. Guida’s hat trick was the headline, but Watkins, Khan, Landmeier, and Yeates all found the back of the net. This team isn’t reliant on one or two players to carry the load.
Goaltending Dominance: Augusta and Gurtner were stellar in net, combining for 51 saves on 53 shots. The Crush’s goaltending has been a backbone of their success all season, and this series was no exception.
Physicality and Discipline: The Blaze tried to rough up the Crush, but Chicago didn’t take the bait. They stayed disciplined, killed penalties effectively, and let their skill do the talking.
Coach Phil Bushbacher’s Take
After the series, Crush Head Coach Phil Bushbacher had this to say:“I’m proud of the way our guys responded this weekend. We knew Decatur was going to come out hard, especially on their home ice, but we stuck to our game plan. Our goaltending was outstanding, our defense was locked in, and we got contributions from everyone up front. That’s the kind of hockey we need to play if we’re going to make a deep run this season.”
Looking Ahead
The Crush improved to 19-7-2-0 on the season and extended their winning streak to four games. They’ll look to keep the momentum rolling as they head into a crucial stretch of divisional matchups. One thing’s for sure: the Crush sent a loud and clear message to the rest of the league this weekend. They’re not just contenders—they’re a force to be reckoned with.
Catch all of the Crush action live on FloHockey.tv!
Comments