SteelHounds fall to Mudbugs

February 14, 2006 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Youngstown SteelHounds News Release


Bossier City, LA. - The Youngstown SteelHounds (18-27-2) battled back from separate deficits priming themselves for an upset on Tuesday night in the CenturyTel Center but the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs (27-13-5) took advantage of a miscue and a fortunate bounce to extend their season-long winning streak to eight straight games. Jeff Christian had a four point night (2-2=4) in the losing effort for the Hounds who fall to 3-2 on their current eight-game road trip.

Bossier-Shreveport got off to a hot start taking the first 12 shots on goal and scoring the game's first goal with Brett Smith beating David St. Germain for his 22nd goal of the season and his 6th of the year versus the SteelHounds. Youngstown responded with each team a man down as Kelly Sickavish took a blast from the point that was re-directed by Jeff Christian by all-star Ken Carroll for his 43rd goal of the season and the fourth in the last two games for the reigning CHL Oakley Player of the Week. Chris Richards and Sickavish (assists in each of his last four games) earned the assists tying the game at one goal apiece. The Mudugs came back quickly scoring the go ahead goal less than a minute later as Chad Spurr netted his 12th goal of the season assisted by Chris Brassard and Quade Lightbody. The ‘Bugs outshot the Hounds 18-6 in the first period with St. Germain turning away 16 shots.

In the second period, the SteelHounds got back to even on the power play with a two-man advantage as Ben Manny beat his man along the boards and went in to backhand a shot by Carroll for his 3rd goal of the season assisted by Christian at the 2:56 mark. Bossier-Shreveport came roaring back scoring a pair of power play goals of their own the first by Scott Sheppard (his 21st goal of the season) who banged home a loose puck in front of the net and the second by Dan Wildfong (his 18th goal of the season) who threw a puck to the net that hit traffic and snuck by St. Germain. The ‘Bugs outshot the Hounds 13-10 in the period leading 31-16 after two periods. After two periods of play the Mudbugs led the SteelHounds 4-2.

The third period was as wild as it gets as the Hounds began the period on a power play and needed just 24 seconds before Joey Sewell banged home a loose puck in front of the net for his 8th goal of the season assisted by Christian and J.R. Holmes bringing the Hounds to within a goal. Christian than got Youngstown back to even by picking off a pass shorthanded and beating Carroll with a great move netting his second goal of the night and 44th of the season tying the game at four. The Mudbugs regained the lead with a long shot from Dale Lupul that fooled St. Germain giving the ‘Bugs a 5-4 advantage. The Hounds would come right back though with a great feed from Chris Shaffer to Manny who snapped a shot by Carroll for his second goal of the night assisted by Shaffer and Pulkki at the 2:02 mark of the period. The game would remain tied until there was less than three minutes remaining. A turnover on the boards sent the Mudbugs in on an odd-man rush that led to Sheppard passing a puck through the crease subsequently getting booted into the net by a Hound defender. It was the second goal of the night that went in off a SteelHound. Ryan Manitowich added an empty net goal finishing the night for Youngstown.

St. Germain finished with 36 saves falling to 13-20-2 on the season and Carroll moves to 17-7-4 winning his ninth straight decision.

The road trip continues for the Hounds on Friday night in Fort Worth against the Brahmas with face-off scheduled for 8:35 PM (EST).

Game Notes: Jeff Christian (8-8=16) and Chris Richards (1-9=10) each extended their point streaks to seven straight games. Jonathan Gagnon missed the game with back spasms. Kelly Sickavish notched an assist for the fourth straight game, his longest point streak of his career. Richards is currently on a league-high seven game assist streak (9A). Chris Brassard's first period assist extends his point streak to 12 straight games.



Central Hockey League Stories from February 14, 2006


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