OAK FOREST - The Chicago Crush Elite squad continued their reign of terror over the Motor City Gamblers this past weekend, delivering a masterclass in puck possession, special teams dominance, and defensive lockdown. The Crush skated away with a 7-1 thrashing on Saturday at Scott R Triphahn Arena and a gritty 1-0 shutout victory on Sunday at West Meadows Ice Arena, solidifying their stranglehold on the division and sending a clear message to the rest of the league: this team is firing on all cylinders.
Game 1: Saturday, January 18 – Chicago Crush Unleash Offensive Onslaught
The Crush came out swinging in the first game of the series, putting up a touchdown and an extra point on the scoreboard while holding the Gamblers to a single field goal. From the opening faceoff, it was clear that Chicago’s top line was in midseason form. Mikey Large wasted no time, burying his ninth of the season just five minutes into the game, assisted by Vincent Cerrentano and Niko Dougan. The floodgates opened from there, with Grant Paullo and Alex Matysiak adding first-period tallies to give the Crush a commanding 3-0 lead after 20 minutes.
The second period was more of the same, as Christopher Frachalla and Hammad Khan found the back of the net, extending the lead to 5-0. The Gamblers managed to sneak one past Johnny Augusta early in the third, but the Crush responded with two more goals, including a power-play marker from Vincent Cerrentano and a snipe from Blake Adolfino, who notched his first of the season.
The Crush outshot the Gamblers 42-25, dominated the special teams battle (1-for-8 on the power play while killing off both Gamblers’ opportunities), and showcased their depth with 11 different players hitting the scoresheet. Niko Dougan was a standout, dishing out three assists, while Grant Paullo contributed a goal and two helpers.
Game 2: Sunday, January 19 – Gurtner Stands Tall in Shutout Victory
If Saturday was an offensive explosion, Sunday was a defensive clinic. The Crush leaned on their goaltender Daniel Gurtner, who turned aside all 21 shots he faced to secure the 1-0 victory. The lone goal came off the stick of Connor Edwards, who capitalized on the power play in the second period with assists from Alex Guida and Mikey Large.
The Gamblers, desperate to salvage some pride, threw everything they had at Gurtner, but the netminder was a brick wall. The Crush penalty kill was equally impressive, snuffing out all three Gamblers’ power plays, including a crucial 5-on-3 disadvantage in the third period.
While the offense wasn’t as prolific as the night before, the Crush still outshot the Gamblers 32-21 and controlled the pace of play for the majority of the game. The Gamblers’ frustration boiled over in the second period when Tadd Siglow was ejected for a major cross-checking penalty, further hampering their chances of mounting a comeback.
Key Takeaways from the Series
Depth Scoring: The Crush got contributions from up and down the lineup. From Blake Adolfino’s first goal of the season to Grant Paullo’s multi-point performance, this team isn’t reliant on just one or two players to carry the load.
Special Teams Dominance: The Crush went 2-for-13 on the power play across the two games while killing off all five Gamblers’ opportunities. This kind of special teams execution is a hallmark of championship-caliber teams.
Goaltending: Johnny Augusta and Daniel Gurtner were stellar between the pipes. Augusta’s 17 saves on 18 shots in Game 1 and Gurtner’s 21-save shutout in Game 2 provided the backbone for the Crush’s success.
Discipline: Despite some chippy play from the Gamblers, the Crush largely stayed out of the box, taking just six penalties in Game 1 and five in Game 2. Their ability to play a clean, structured game was a key factor in the sweep.
Coaches Thoughts
Crush Elite Head Coach Phil Bushbacher summed up the weekend perfectly:"This was a statement series for us. We came in with a game plan, executed it to a tee, and showed what we’re capable of when we play our brand of hockey. From the net out, everyone contributed, and that’s what it takes to win in this league. We’re not satisfied, though. This is just another step in the process."
Looking Ahead
With the sweep, the Crush improve to 21-7-2-0 on the season and extend their winning streak to four games. They’ll look to keep the momentum rolling as they prepare for their next series against the Chicago Cougars. Meanwhile, the Gamblers will need to regroup after dropping their sixth straight game.
One thing’s for sure: the Chicago Crush are hitting their stride at the right time, and the rest of the league should be on notice. Catch all the action live on FloHockey.tv!
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