OAK FOREST, IL - The Chicago Crush Elite squad entered this weekend’s home-and-home series against their cross-town rivals, the Chicago Cougars, with high hopes. But by the time the final horn sounded on Sunday night, the Crush were left licking their wounds after a pair of tough losses—8-3 on Friday and 5-4 on Sunday. While the results were disappointing, there were moments of resilience and flashes of potential that the Crush can build on as they look to rebound. Let’s dive into the weekend that was for the Crush, shift by shift, hit by hit, and goal by goal.
Game 1: A Second-Period Collapse (8-3 Cougars)
Friday night at Orbit Ice Arena was a tough one for the Crush. They started strong, with Mikey Large opening the scoring at 12:27 of the first period, burying a feed from Alex Matysiak and Connor Edwards. Just over a minute later, the Cougars tied it up, but the Crush responded late in the period with Niko Dougan netting his 8th of the season to take a 2-1 lead into the intermission.
Then came the second period—a 20-minute nightmare for the Crush. The Cougars exploded for 5 goals, including a stretch of 3 goals in just 50 seconds, to take a commanding 6-3 lead. The Crush’s defense, typically a strength, looked disorganized, and goaltender Johnny Augusta was left out to dry, facing 14 shots in the period and stopping just 9. The Cougars’ top line of Jeffrey Schroeder, Caleb Lind, and Jakub Potoczny was relentless, combining for 4 goals and 7 assists on the night.
The Crush’s power play, which has been a struggle all season, went 1 for 5, while the penalty kill allowed 1 goal on 2 chances. By the time the third period rolled around, the game was out of reach, and the Cougars added two more goals to seal the 8-3 victory.
Game 2: A Valiant Effort, Chicago Crush Elite Falls Short (5-4 Cougars)
Sunday’s rematch was a different story for the Crush. They came out with a chip on their shoulder, determined to bounce back from Friday’s embarrassment. The game was a penalty-filled affair, with both teams combining for 46 penalty minutes, but the Crush showed more fight and resilience.
After a scoreless first period, the Cougars struck first in the second, but the Crush responded quickly. Dominic DeMatteo buried his 9th of the season off a nice setup from Joshua Yeates and Alex Matysiak, and Niko Dougan added another goal later in the period to keep things close. However, the Cougars’ Gianni Annicchiarico scored a backbreaking power-play goal with just 13 seconds left in the period to give the Cougars a 4-2 lead heading into the third.
The Crush didn’t go quietly. Christopher Frachalla and Alexander Hodge scored power-play goals in the third period to pull within one, but Annicchiarico struck again on the power play to restore the two-goal lead. The Crush pulled goalie Daniel Gurtner late and generated some chances, but they couldn’t find the equalizer, falling 5-4.
Key Takeaways for the Crush
Niko Dougan’s Consistency: Dougan was a bright spot for the Crush, scoring in both games and now sitting at 9 goals on the season. His ability to find the back of the net in key moments is a huge asset for this team.
Power Play Shows Life: After going 1 for 5 in Game 1, the Crush’s power play looked much better in Game 2, converting 2 of 7 chances. If they can build on this, it could be a game-changer moving forward.
Defensive Struggles: The Crush’s defense, usually a strength, was uncharacteristically shaky this weekend. They allowed 13 goals on 68 shots over the two games, and the second-period collapse in Game 1 was particularly concerning.
Goaltending Needs to Be Better: Johnny Augusta and Daniel Gurtner combined for a save percentage of just .809 this weekend. The Crush need their netminders to be sharper, especially against high-powered offenses like the Cougars.
Resilience in Game 2: Despite the loss, the Crush showed fight in Game 2, battling back from multiple deficits and making it a one-goal game late. That kind of resilience will serve them well as they look to bounce back.
Coach's Perspective
Despite the losses, Crush Head Coach Phil Bushbacher saw reasons for optimism:
"The results obviously sting, but I’m proud of the way the guys battled in Game 2. We showed resilience and started to play more to our identity. If we tighten up defensively and capitalize on our opportunities, I know this group can compete with anyone in the league."
What’s Next for the Crush?
The Crush have now lost two in a row and are 0-3-0-0 against the Cougars this season. With the playoffs on the horizon, they’ll need to address their defensive lapses and find more consistency on special teams. The good news is that they have the talent to turn things around—Alex Matysiak (4 goals, 17 assists) and Mikey Large (8 goals, 13 assists) are having strong seasons, and the team’s depth up front gives them multiple scoring threats.
The Crush will need to regroup quickly and focus on the details—clearing the crease, winning battles along the boards, and capitalizing on their chances. If they can do that, they’ll be a tough out come playoff time.
Final Thoughts
This weekend was a tough one for the Crush, but it wasn’t all doom and gloom. They showed flashes of their potential, particularly in Game 2, and have the pieces in place to bounce back. The key will be learning from their mistakes and using this weekend as motivation to improve.
The rivalry with the Cougars is alive and well, and if these two teams meet again in the playoffs, it’s going to be must-watch hockey. For now, the Crush need to focus on getting back to their identity—playing hard, playing smart, and playing for each other. The season is far from over, and this team has the talent and heart to make some noise down the stretch.
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