STEELHOUNDS Hopes take another hit

The playoffs seem more and more unlikely after Youngstown fell in OT.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Despite Jeff Christian's Central Hockey League-leading 47th and 48th goals, the Youngstown SteelHounds' flickering playoff hopes became a bit dimmer after Saturday's 5-4 overtime loss to the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs at the Chevrolet Centre.
With 2:55 remaining in overtime, the Mudbugs pinned this week's third-straight home loss on the SteelHounds (20-30-4, 44 points) when a streaking Brett Smith hit Chad Spurr with a pass near the goal and Spurr tapped the puck past goalie David St. Germain.
Because the Mudbugs (32-13-6, 70 points) clinched the Northeast Division with Friday's 5-3 victory, the SteelHounds' only chance to make the CHL playoffs in their initial season is to catch the Wichita Thunder (26-17-6, 58 points) for the Eastern Conference's final wild-card berth.
Saturday's OT loss, a fight-filled contest before a near-capacity crowd, reduces the Thunder's magic number of eliminating the SteelHounds to nine (Thunder points earned or SteelHounds points lost).
Golden opportunity
The SteelHounds were handed a golden opportunity with 10 seconds remaining in regulation when Spurr was penalized for slashing. But Chris Richards received the same penalty as time expired to make both teams short one man as overtime began.
SteelHounds newcomer Joey Sewell scored goals in the second and third periods as the SteelHounds overcame a 4-2 deficit to force overtime.
In 12 games for Youngstown, Sewell has scored 12 goals and eight assists.
The Mudbugs took advantage of their first power-play opportunity after Richards was penalized for crosschecking. From behind the red line near the SteelHounds goal, Blair Manning passed the puck through the crease to Spurr who flicked the puck past goalie St. Germain for a 1-0 lead about six-and-a-half minutes into the game.
Moments later, the SteelHounds capitalized on a 5-on-3 advantage. Defenseman Matt Hanson's slapshot from near the blue line was tipped by Christian past Cacciola to tie the game. Kelly Sickavish and Sewell assisted.
With 6:40 to play in the first period, the Mudbugs regained the lead when Scott Sheppard's 25-foot wristshot eluded St. Germain.
The Mudbugs grabbed a 3-1 lead early in the second period as Dan Wildfong beat St. Germain with a close backhand shot. Seconds before the even-strength goal was tallied, the SteelHounds skated off a penalty for too many men on the ice.
williams@vindy.com