A smashing debut & 7 straight

New Iceman Kirill Lebedev scored the game's first goal tonight and the Ice won their seventh straight game -- and extended their regulation unbeaten streak to 11 games (9-0-2) in a 4-2 victory over the Chicago Steel on the road tonight. 

Lebedev scored the game's first goal, giving the Ice a 1-0 lead after a period. Former Steel defenseman R.J. Boyd and Robbie Baillargeon -- who each assisted on Lebedev's goal -- each had two assists on the night. Robert Polosello also scored twice. The Ice -- who possess two of the league's best special teams units -- also scored power play and shorthanded goals in a complete victory.

With Green Bay losing to the USNDTP U18s tonight, the Ice gained two points on the Gamblers and now trail by seven points. The Ice are 21-7-4 with 46 points and a game in hand on GB. The Ice are also five points ahead of Dubuque, whom they visit Saturday night. 

Polosello has caught fire of late, and has tallied a point in six straight games. He scored on a feed from Ryan Obuchowski 1:54 into the second to give the Ice a two-goal cushion. Sean Kuraly added a power play goal four and a half minutes later to give the Ice a 3-0 edge. It was his 19th goal of the year, putting him one behind team leader Daniil Tarasov. Kuraly now has a seven-game point streak going.

Chicago's Bo Pieper and Jacob Slavin scored within the next five minutes to cut the lead to 3-2, but Jon Gillies slammed the door the rest of the night, making 29 saves. He stopped all 10 Chicago shots in the third period, during which Polosello added a shorthanded goal.

Matthias Dahlstrom made 39 saves for Chicago in the loss, as the Ice held a 43-31 shot edge.

Jacob Fallon and Alex Barron were both plus-2 on the night for the Ice.

Tarasov was scoreless, but he got off a whopping 10 shots on goal during the game.

3 stars
1. Robert Polosello (Ice), 2 goals, +1, 2 shots
2. Bo Pieper (Chicago), goal, +1, 2 shots
3. R.J. Boyd (Ice), 2 assists, +1, 1 shot

USHL boxscore

Tuesday wrap

Nick Mattson scored a goal today in the Chicago Blackhawks prospect camp scrimmage, although he didn't seem to impress the Committed Indians bloggers. Some highlights of the Hawks camp are here. (personal note: I didn't see Hawks camp, obviously, but Mattson was USHL Defenseman of the Year for a reason ... but, for full disclosure, will post what those who were in attendance saw).

Current Ice defenseman R.J. Boyd is competing at Florida Panthers' development camp, which began today. Coverage is here from the Litter Box Cats.

Ice alum Stanislav Galiev is in the Washington Capitals camp. Galiev is blogging about his experiences in Washington. Video from the camp is here.

Looking back
Anthony Bitetto recently participated in the Nashville Predators camp. The Section 303 blog catches up with the former Ice defenseman.

Ben Blood just finished up the Ottawa Senators' development camp. He was part of the team that won the camp-ending 3-on-3 tournament. He will go back to North Dakota for his senior year.

Ice shore up blueline with Panthers draft pick

Defenseman R.J. Boyd was traded to the Ice on Wednesday by the Chicago Steel. 

In exchange, the Ice sent goaltender Colin Stevens, a member of the team's affiliate list, to Chicago. Stevens played in the EJHL with the Boston Junior Bruins last season.


Boyd played 33 games with Chicago last season. He had two goals and 42 PIMs. He also played 15 games with Sacred Heart University. Boyd is 6-3, 190 and a left-hand shot. He is a native of Fort Myers, Florida, and was picked by the hometown Panthers in the seventh round of the 2010 NHL Draft. He is also a product of Cushing Academy in Massachusetts. With a 1991 birthdate (2/7/91), he will be eligible to play the 2011-12 season in the USHL. 

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