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SteelHounds Look for Eighth Straight Win Tonight

March 7, 2007 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Youngstown SteelHounds News Release


The CHL Playoffs don't begin until late March but don't tell the Youngstown SteelHounds (30-16-9) who enter tonight's game versus the Oklahoma City Blazers (31-15-7) with a seven-game winning streak and a 10-game point streak (9-0-1).

The Hounds are currently in the midst of several franchise records including their seven-game winning streak, their four-game home winning streak and their five-game road winning streak. Youngstown is currently tied with the Blazers for the fourth seed in the Northern Conference playoff picture despite Oklahoma City having two games in hand on the Hounds.

"Games in hand are important and do mean something but they are useless if you don't win them," said SteelHounds Head Coach Kevin Kaminski. "We have an opportunity to do damage head-to-head and that is what we have to focus on."

Youngstown's recent success began back on January 27th with a one-sided shutout victory over Rio Grande Valley and has since seen the team go 14-3-1 with two losses coming to Bossier-Shreveport and one to the Colorado Eagles. The competition has been fierce as 12 of the 14 wins for the Hounds have been against teams that would qualify for the playoffs as of today.

The SteelHounds magic number is just three points to assure the inevitable, a playoff clincher. The team on the outside looking in is the Tulsa Oilers who trail Youngstown by 18 points with 10 left to play. Should it be necessary the first tiebreaker is total wins which the Hounds have 30 and the Oilers have 22.

Yesterday's matinee game between the Hounds and the Blazers saw two teams with extended winning streaks go at it but in the end it was Youngstown taking the 4-2 victory. Matt Hanson, Mark Odut, Dallas Anderson and Chris Richards scored goals in the balanced attack for the Hounds and Brad Roberts made 21 saves earning his seventh straight win and 21st win of his rookie season. Roberts has been outstanding lately going 13-2-1 in his last 16 starts allowing two goals or fewer in 11 of those games.

Chris Richards goal yesterday was his career-high 36th of the season and the veteran is just one point shy of reaching the 100-point plateau for the first time in his career. The dynamic duo of Jeff Christian (102 points) and Richards are one-two in the league in points.

The Hounds lead the season series versus the Blazers 2-1 with tonight's game representing the final regular season meeting between the two teams.

Youngstown has five road games and three home games remaining in the regular season. The CHL's best team, the Colorado Eagles, is in the Chevy Centre March 16-18 for the final home series of the regular season.

For ticket information for tonight's game, contact the SteelHounds at 330-747-PUCK or visit the team's online home at www.steelhounds.com.



Central Hockey League Stories from March 7, 2007


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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