Team slips for first home loss

Neither team was able to capitalize on many power-play opportunities.
By GREG GULAS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
YOUNGSTOWN -- On a night when the Youngstown SteelHounds ice hockey team looked to remain perfect at home, Tulsa's Jim Dahl gave three very good reasons why his Oilers would play the role of spoiler.
Dahl's hat trick combined with 28 saves by Oiler goalie Chris King, including 10 in the final period, gave the Oilers a 3-2, come-from-behind victory over the SteelHounds in Central Hockey League action Friday at the Convocation Center.
"This is a huge win for us, especially since it came on the road," Oilers coach Butch Kaebel said. "To come from behind like we did tonight, give all of the credit to our team for not quitting.
Disappointments for both
"To be just 1-for-10 on power-play opportunities is disappointing, but we'll take that one goal tonight and be happy with it," Kaebel said. "We're trying anything and everything on our power-play opportunities, hoping to get something going."
The Oilers improved to 5-2-0 (10 points) in the league's Northwest Division, winning for the fifth time in six outings and the third time in four road frays.
The SteelHounds dropped to 4-3-1 overall in the CHL's Northeast Division, having split their last six outings while dropping their first of three home contests.
"We had some power-play opportunities tonight and just couldn't capitalize," SteelHounds coach Jean Laforest said. "Take nothing away from Tulsa, but we didn't play a solid 60 minutes tonight, and that is disappointing.
"We didn't put enough pressure on them offensively," Laforest said. "They are a patient team, and their defense jumped in time and again.
"We fell into their gameplan, and when you let a team hang around like we let them hang around tonight, they'll bite you. That is exactly what they did to us tonight."
Scoring sequence
Chris Richards' fourth goal of the season, a power-play opportunity at 5:58 of the opening period, gave the SteelHounds a 1-0 lead.
Dahl, who had just one goal and three points in six previous outings, scored the first of his three goals on a penalty shot at 7:43 of the second period.
His goal broke a streak of 88:13 in which an Oilers forward did not score a goal. Until then, a defenseman had scored all of their previous goals.
The SteelHounds' Jeff Christian, who assisted on Richards' goal in the opening frame, registered his team-leading ninth goal of the season at 13:02 of the final period for a 2-1 Youngstown advantage.
Christian has 17 points in his last five games, including nine goals, a personal best for him.
"Christian, [Darryl] Lloyd and Richards are an excellent line, but we can't depend on them all of the time," Laforest said.
"Someone else has to step up as well if we expect to be successful this season."
Dahl's second goal, a power-play effort assisted by Henry Kuster, knotted the game at two goals apiece with 10:59 remaining.
Ninety-seven seconds later, Jaroslav Cesky set up Dahl on his third goal.
"My line has just been excellent this season," Dahl said. Kuster and Cesky seem to get me the puck at the right time and when we need it most," Dahl said.
"Credit [Chris] King as well for his play in goal. He went post to post and shut down the SteelHounds when we needed it most," Dahl said. "He played great every period."
King rejected 28 Youngstown shots to remain perfect in four outings this season.
David St. Germain made 30 saves for the SteelHounds in a losing effort, falling to 2-3.
The SteelHounds converted on just 1-of-12 power-play attempts.
The SteelHounds host the Oilers tonight at 7:05.