ADDISON, Ill.- In a crosstown clash that lived up to the hype, the Chicago Crush Elite emerged victorious once again, securing a 5-3 win over the Chicago Cougars at Addison Ice Arena. This triumph comes hot on the heels of a tense 4-3 shootout win the previous night in Bensenville at The Edge Ice Arena. The Crush, riding high on momentum, showcased their dominance in front of the home crowd and extended their lead in the USPHL standings.
The Crush wasted no time making their mark on home ice, orchestrating a first-period onslaught that left the Cougars scrambling. Austin Kessel opened the scoring just 5:25 into the game, capitalizing on a beautiful setup from Joseph Coglianese and Jaden Yuknis. Anthony Frachalla added two more to the tally, chasing Cougars' netminder John Dillard from the crease in favor of Kole Wendt. Jaden Yuknis, not content with just assists, buried one of his own, closing the period with a commanding 4-0 lead for the Crush.
The second period witnessed a spike in intensity as both teams engaged in a physical battle. Penalties flowed, with each side trying to gain an edge. The Crush's penalty kill unit held strong, denying the Cougars any opportunity to capitalize. Notable penalties included a game misconduct for the Crush's Niko Dougan and a major for spearing on the Cougars' Mark Shibalov. Despite the physicality, the second period remained scoreless, with the Crush maintaining their four-goal cushion.
The third period saw a determined Cougar squad attempting a comeback. Lukas Kurowski and Joshua Roman found the back of the net, injecting life into the game. However, Jaden Yuknis, continuing his standout performance, notched a crucial short-handed goal to quash any hopes of a full comeback. The final minutes were marred by a flurry of penalties, including a disqualification for fighting on Vincent Cerrentano and a game misconduct for Eli Wallichs of the Cougars. In the end, the Crush held on for a 5-3 victory, securing their second win in as many nights against the Cougars.
Jaden Yuknis and Anthony Frachalla emerged as the stars of the night, each registering two goals and Yuknis adding an assist. Their offensive skills, combined with a stellar penalty-killing effort, played a pivotal role in the Crush's success. Joseph Coglianese showcased his playmaking abilities with three assists, contributing to multiple goals.
The atmosphere at Addison Ice Arena was electric as fans celebrated the Crush's back-to-back wins over the Cougars. Head Coach Phil Bushbacher praised his team's resilience and ability to weather the storm during a physically demanding game.
With this victory, the Crush solidify their position atop the USPHL standings and look ahead to upcoming matchups with confidence. The back-to-back wins against the Cougars not only showcase the team's skill on the ice but also their mental fortitude in the face of adversity. As the season progresses, the Crush are proving to be a force to be reckoned with in the USPHL.
Catch all the Chicago Crush hockey excitement live on FloHockey.tv!
Comments