Jeff Christian plays well in SteelHounds' victory

Goalie David St. Germain turned back 32 shots in the 3-1 win.
By Chuck Housteau
Vindicator Correspondent
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown SteelHounds' forward Jeff Christian missed his daughter's birthday while the team was on its recent six-game, two-week road trip.
On Wednesday at the Chevrolet Centre, Christian gave his daughter two extra birthday presents when he scored his league-leading 30th and 31st goals in the second period to lead the SteelHounds to a 3-1 victory over the Wichita Thunder.
David St. Germain turned back 32 shots on goal as the SteelHounds defeated one of the top teams in the Central Hockey League in Wichita (18-10-5).
Road trip behind
Youngstown (14-18-1) returned home for the first time since Dec. 23 after going 2-4 on the road trip and the win couldn't have come at a better time for the SteelHounds.
"We're fighting for our playoff lives," said SteelHound coach J.F. Laforest. "This is just what the doctor prescribed and we had a great effort.
"To beat one of the top teams in the league is a big boost for us."
Wichita handed Youngstown a 5-2 road loss back on Dec. 29.
The SteelHounds came out fired up and put on an entertaining first period of play for over 4,100 fans.
The period featured crisp passing, several outstanding saves by both goal keepers and a couple of fights.
Wichita scored the game's first goal only four minutes into the contest as Tyler Liebel scored on a power play goal.
Youngstown countered when Chris Richards scored on a power play goal on assists from J.R. Holmes, Jonathan Gagnon at 5:39 of the period.
Team takes control
The SteelHounds took control in the second period and despite getting outshot by the Thunder 11-8, Youngstown and Christian tallied twice.
Christian, who will be playing in the CHL All-Star game next week, scored at 3:04 of the period on an assist from Richards and Chris Schaffer and later on a power play goal at 17:05.
That goal was set up by Richards and Jonathan Gagnon.
"The thing about the road is that it can bring a team together," Christian said. "We are starting to come together.
"We played well the last three games on the road winning two and we wanted to carry that over onto tonight and we did that."
Christian had extra motivation as he was up against the league's second-leading goal scorer, Joe Blaznek, who was held scoreless in this game.
"I really think Joe is the best player in this league," Christian said. "I feel like I'm the guy and he's chasing me and I feel like when I get those chances I have to bury the puck."
Germain did a great job of not only shutting out Blaznek but one of the top goal-scoring teams in the league.
Feels at home
"David's really coming into his own," said Laforest. "He's starting to feel like Youngstown's his home. He done a great job.
"He was goaltender of the week two weeks ago and if he keeps this up he'll win that award even more in the future."
The SteelHounds like the friendly confines of the Chevrolet Centre where they have won five of their last six home contests and they will have to continue their strong play because they face the Thunder twice more on Friday and Saturday nights.
Laforest said the team needs to continue to play well, especially at home.
"As far as our team's identity, we've been Jekyll and Hyde at times," Laforest said. "We've been a great team and we've been a team searching for an identity sometimes.
"We want to develop consistency in the second half of the season and tonight was the start of us developing that consistency."