CENTRAL HOCKEY LEAGUE SteelHounds snap streak with win over Mudbugs

Jeff Christian finished with four points for Youngstown.
BOSSIER CITY, La. -- The Youngstown SteelHounds scored a season-high five power play goals Tuesday en route to a 5-3 victory over the Northeast Division-leading Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs.
The win snaps a four-game losing streak and pulls the SteelHounds (12-17-1) to within four points of first place. The Mudbugs are 13-12-3.
Jeff Christian finished the game with four points (two goals, two assists) while Jonathan Gagnon and Chris Richards each notched three points.
Scott Barnes added a pair of goals, including the game winner.
Goaltender David St. Germain finished with 31 saves, earning his 12th victory. Youngstown has earned at least a point in each of their three games against the Mudbugs.
Getting started
The SteelHounds started the scoring with a power-play goal by Christian, his 26th of the season, assisted by Richards and Jeff Alcombrack at the 2:50 mark of the first period. It was the SteelHounds' second-fastest goal of the season.
The Mudbugs responded with an even-strength goal by Milan Vodrazka.
Youngstown regained the lead on the power play with Christian re-directing an Alcombrack shot. Gagnon also was credited with an assist at the 13:25 mark.
The Bugs connected on a power play scored by Brett Smith, his 15th of the season and fifth of the year against the Hounds.
Germain (Central Hockey League leader with 1,305:55 minutes played) stopped 13 first-period shots while Mudbugs All-Star goalie Ken Carroll made 10 saves.
Back and forth
The SteelHounds scored two more power play goals in the second period. Youngstown regained the lead at the 6:41 mark of the period with Gagnon finding space between the circles where he blasted the puck by Carroll for his ninth goal.
Bossier-Shreveport tied the game just 25 seconds later on a rush up the ice that led to a rebound shot by Dale Lupul.
The Hounds regained the lead with Scott Barnes scoring his 12th goal of the season on the power play, assisted by Christian and Gagnon.
Carroll was pulled by Bossier-Shreveport Coach Scott Muscutt and replaced by David Cacciola.
The SteelHounds played a nice defensive third period, keeping the Mudbugs at bay despite 10 shots on goal by Bossier-Shreveport.
Barnes scored the only goal of the final period, his 13th.
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 p.m.