Brahmas Come Up Short In Shootout
February 21, 2006 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Fort Worth Brahmas News Release
Fort Worth - Two comeback efforts weren't enough to produce a win for the Fort Worth Brahmas on Monday night, as the visiting Youngstown Steelhounds held off a resilient Brahmas squad for a 5-4 shootout win at the Fort Worth Convention Center.
In the early going, it appeared as if the Steelhounds were going to cruise to an easy victory. Youngstown scored three goals (one from left wing Ben Manny and two from right wing Joey Sewell) on their first seven shots of the game to chase Fort Worth's starting goaltender, Larry Sterling, just 14:04 into the first period.
Sterling was replaced by rookie netminder Andrew Martin and the Brahmas slowly but surely started to regain their footing in the game. The Brahmas began their initial comeback at the 19:41 mark of the first period when left wing David Silverstone flipped in the rebound of a Justin Coutu shot to cut the Steelhounds lead to 3-1.
In the second period, Fort Worth forward Jimmy Sokol scored two goals two minutes apart to tie the game at three. First, Sokol netted a shorthanded breakaway effort at the 14:28 mark of the period. Then, just moments later, after a nice setup from Brahmas team captain Wes Mason, Sokol snapped a wrist shot past Steelhounds goaltender David St. Germain from the bottom of the left wing face off circle.
Youngstown regained the lead at 4-3 3:06 into the third period when Hounds winger Jeff Christian picked up his CHL league leading 45th goal by jamming the puck past Martin from the right side of the Brahmas goal crease. Silverstone, however, had another answer for the Brahmas, redirecting a Coutu shot by St. Germain to knot the game at four just 41 seconds later.
Despite several chances for each team in the final sixteen minutes of regulation, the game went to overtime. Both the Brahmas and the Steelhounds had a powerplay in the extra session, but neither club was able to score a decisive goal.
In the shootout, after goals by Youngstown's Sewell and Chris Shaffer and Fort Worth's Ben Gustavson and Cory Stillman, the Brahmas had two chances to win the game. However, St. Germain denied both Vladimir Hartinger and David Silverstone, keeping the Steelhounds alive. Darryl Lloyd and J.F. Labarre followed up St. Germain's efforts with two more Youngstown shootout goals. However, Fort Worth would respond, as both Ty Hennes and Matt Reynolds found the back of the net. Youngstown's eight shooter, Ben Manny, turned a nifty forehand move into a go-ahead shootout goal. Then, St. Germain stopped the Brahmas' Bobby Davis, giving the Steelhounds a dramatic victory and making Manny's goal, his second of the night, a game-winner.
Martin made 24 saves in regulation and three saves in the shootout in his relief appearance for the Brahmas. However, the Plano, Texas raised rookie took the shootout loss, dropping his record to 2-4-3 on the season. St. Germain made 27 saves in regulation and four saves in the shootout to earn the win in net for the Steelhounds.
The shootout loss by the Brahmas extends Fort Worth's current winless streak to a season worst nine consecutive games (0-6-3). The Brahmas are now 13-28-8 on the season.
Fort Worth will now head to Wichita for a 7:05 p.m. game against the Thunder on Wednesday, February 22. The Brahmas will then return home to Fort Worth this weekend for a pair of home games at the Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum. On Friday, February 24, the Brahmas will host the Memphis RiverKings. Then, on Saturday, February 25, Fort Worth will welcome the Thunder to town for the first time this season. Both Friday and Saturday's games will start at 7:30 p.m. For additional information, please contact the Brahmas team office at (817) 336-4423.
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