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Hounds power past Mudbugs, 5-3

January 3, 2006 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Youngstown SteelHounds News Release


Bossier City, LA. - The Youngstown SteelHounds (12-17-1) upped the voltage on Tuesday night scoring a season-high five power play goals en route to a 5-3 victory over the Northeast Division leading Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs (13-12-3) pulling Youngstown to within four points of first place. Jeff Christian finished the game with four points (2-2=4) and Jonathan Gagnon (1-2=3) and Chris Richards (0-3=3) each notched three points. Scott Barnes added a pair of goals including the game winner and David St. Germain finished with 31 saves earning his 12th victory of the season. Youngstown has earned at least a point in each of the three games thus far versus Bossier-Shreveport (2-0-1). The win snaps the Hounds four-game road losing skid.

It was an offensive first period of play as each team scored a couple of goals and for Youngstown they held two separate one-goal leads. The SteelHounds started the scoring with a power play goal by Jeff Christian, his 26th of the season, assisted by Chris Richards and Jeff Alcombrack at the 2:50 mark of the period (second fastest goal of the season by Youngstown). The Mudbugs answered back with an even-strength goal scored by Milan Vodrazka scored at the 8:16 mark of the first period, his third goal of the season. Blair Manning and Brett Smith had the assists. Youngstown regained the lead again on the power play with Christian re-directing an Alcombrack shot for his league-leading 27th goal of the season. Along with Alcombrack, Jonathan Gagnon was credited with an assist at the 13:25 mark. The ‘Bugs connected on a power play of their own scored by Smith, his 15th of the season and fifth of the year against the Hounds. The assists were given to Ryan Manitowich and Jeremy Downs. Bossier-Shreveport led on the shot board 15-12 as David St. Germain (league leader with 1305:55 minutes played) stopped 13 shots and all-star Ken Carroll made 10 saves. Youngstown finished 2 for 4 on the power play and Bossier-Shreveport went 1 for 2 in the first 20 minutes.

The SteelHounds continued their strong play on the man advantage in the second period scoring two more power play goals. Youngstown regained the lead at the 6:41 mark of the period with Gagnon working a nice two-man game with Christian and finding space between the circles where he blasted the puck by Carroll for his ninth goal of the season, assisted by Christian (his third point of the game) and Richards (his third point of the game). Bossier-Shreveport tied the game just 25 seconds later on a rush up the ice that led to a rebound shot by Dale Lupul who beat St. Germain for his second goal of the season. With the score tied for the third time on the evening, the Hounds would regain the lead with Scott Barnes scoring his 12th goal of the season, on the power play, assisted by Christian (his fourth point of the game) and Gagnon (his third point of the game). Carroll was pulled by Bossier-Shreveport Head Coach Scott Muscutt after allowing the fourth goal and replaced by David Cacciola. The Hounds outshot the ‘Bugs 13-9 in the period and through two frames were 4 for 7 on the power play.

The SteelHounds played a nice defensive third period keeping the Mudbugs at bay despite 10 shots on goal by Bossier-Shreveport. The only goal of the period came again on the power play again scored by Barnes, his second of the game and 13th of the season assisted by Darryl Lloyd and Kelly Sickavish at the 18:55 mark of the period. Christian had several great chances for the hat trick including a pair of 2-on-1's with Richards but failed to find the back of the net. He led the team with eight shots on goal.

Each team finished the night with 34 shots on goal as St. Germain improves to 8-12-1 and Carroll takes the loss falling to 7-7-2. The Hounds finished the game 5 for 8 with the power play, while the ‘Bugs went 1 for 4.

Youngstown continues their six-game road trip when they face the Laredo Bucks (19-8-3) on Friday night. Face-off is scheduled for 8:30 PM (EST).

Game Notes: The SteelHounds were without both Matt Nicholson (concussion) and Dan Buccella (knee)...Nicholson missed his seventh straight game and Buccella his third straight game...Bossier-Shreveport's Scott Sheppard, Dale Lupul and Ken Carroll were all named as Northern Conference reserves for the 2006 CHL All-Star Game...the two PPG's scored by Youngstown in the first and second periods matches the most scored in a period this year; the four scored in the game is the most scored in one game by the Hounds this season...Christian's two goals and two assists marks the fourth time this season he has scored at least four points in a game...Jeff Alcombrack left the game in the first period with an apparent lower body injury and did not return.

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