STEELHOUNDS Central showdown downtown

With a sweep this weekend, Youngstown can move into a tie for first place in the Northeast Division.
YOUNGSTOWN -- Fans of the Mahoning Valley do not have to wait until April for playoff hockey as it will be at the Chevrolet Centre this weekend when the Steelhounds (14-7-5) take on the Memphis RiverKings (17-6-3) for first place in the Central Hockey League's Northeast Division tonight and Saturday. Both face-offs are scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
This weekend will be the fifth and sixth of 11 meetings between the two teams this season but the first time they have met in the Chevrolet Centre. Youngstown kicked off the season with two wins against their divisional rival with the first one coming by way of Chris Richards in a shootout. Memphis would return the favor earlier this month beating the 'Hounds on Dec. 1 and Dec. 3 with one of their victories coming on a shootout.
All-star collection
These are two of the top teams in the CHL as there will be three Northern Conference all-star starters on the ice in Chris Richards and Jeff Christian for Youngstown and defensemen Derek Landmesser for Memphis. Christian leads all scorers in the Central Hockey League with 49 points and 33 assists and is riding the league's longest point streak at 13 games with 10 goals and 17 assists. Christian's linemate and fellow all-star, Chris Richards is second in both of these categories posting 46 points with 30 assists. Not to be outdone, Derek Landmesser has 28 points coming by way of five goals with 23 assists, making him fourth in the league in scoring amongst defensemen.
These two games though are not just about the all stars as both teams have some big time help. Memphis has the most active goaltender in the league in Larry Sterling. The only goalie to win the Sherwood CHL Goalie of the Month award, Sterling has started in 25 games this season, including the last 20 in a row, posting a 2.78 goals against average with a save percentage of .897 on the season. In four games against Youngstown he has posted 121 saves on 136 total shots for a 2-1-1 record.
Esdale up in air
The SteelHounds are hoping for the return of defensemen and assistant captain Paul Esdale, who has been out the last three games with an undisclosed injury. The native of Edmonton, Alberta, has been the catalyst of the power play and the captain of the defense with 23 points coming from six goals in just 19 games played, good for seventh among defensemen in the league. SteelHounds coach Kevin Kaminski feels he has the best defensemen in the league.
"When you're 5-foot-9 and the best defenseman in the league, people are going to be coming after you," said SteelHounds coach Kevin Kaminski.
The 'Hounds trail the Kings by four points in the Northeast division and with a sweep this weekend can move into a tie for first place. The teams had a bench-clearing brawl in the third period of a game in October. Nine players were ejected.
"They [Memphis] are our biggest rival and with first place on the line you know that both teams are going to come out full force and it should make for a heck of a weekend," said Kaminski.