ICE HOCKEY Shootout grounds 'Hounds

Youngstown couldn't hold a 3-1 lead in an overtime defeat to the Jackalopes.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- SteelHounds fans who stayed until the very end received a treat Friday -- their first look at a shootout.
Unfortunately for Youngstown, the Odessa Jackalopes scored twice on their five breakaway shots to win the shootout, 2-0, and the game, 4-3, at the Chevrolet Centre.
Asked if he likes the concept of ending a game at 65 minutes and then staging the breakaway contest, SteelHounds coach Jean Laforest laughed and said, "Obviously if you ask me tonight, no."
The he added: "I think it's exciting for the fans.
"I think it's a good idea. It does give conclusion to a game rather than go on and on and on. And you have the five-minute four-on-four [in the overtime session]."
Laforest was pleased to pick up a point for the overtime loss as the SteelHounds trailed Northeast Division leaders Bossier-Shreveport (15-12-5) by six points entering Friday's Central Hockey League action.
But he admitted being frustrated that the SteelHounds couldn't hang on to a two-goal lead at home.
Close call
"We had our chances," Laforest said. "Chris Richards had their guy beat and he couldn't get his stick back there. Does that make a difference? It might."
In the shootout, each team alternates skaters who go one-on-one against the goalies.
SteelHounds goaltender David St. Germain stopped the first two shots. Then Richards pulled Jackalopes goalie Derek Dolson out of the net but was unable to get a shot off after the puck slid off his stick.
On Odessa's third shot, Dominic Leveille beat St. Germain low on the goalie's right. On the fifth shot, Adam Loncan found similar success and it wasn't accidental.
"The scouting report said that if you can dip a shoulder and fake a shot, that low side could be there," said Loncan who also scored Odessa's third goal in the second period. "He made great stops on the other three shots we took -- he was there every time."
Loncan said St. Germain was "quick down low, but after Dom put it there, I laid it there [as well] and got lucky."
Perspective
Laforest called the loss "disappointing. Guys are upset about the loss but you've got to put things into perspective. Tonight we gained a valuable point for the playoff [race].
"We've got to look at the positives because we've got a race with Shreveport. We've got to catch them in order to make the playoffs."
Perspective is important, Laforest said, because the Southwest Division-leading Jackalopes (20-11-4) walloped the SteelHounds (14-20-2) when they played before.
"They are good team -- last time they beat us 7-1. Tonight, we go into a shootout," Laforest said. "Our thing was we should have maintained that lead when we had it."
About six minutes into the game, the Jackalopes grabbed a 1-0 lead when John Kozoriz, planted to the right of St. Germain, beat the SteelHounds goalie with a 10-foot wristshot set up by Don Margettie and Josh Legge.
Mallette to the rescue
Moments later, it was nearly 2-0 but for the defensive save made by SteelHounds defenseman Kris Mallette as the puck sat on the goal line with St. Germain sprawled away from the net. Mallette cradled the puck and flipped it aside of the unguarded goalmouth.
Left winger Shawn Mamane tied the score eight minutes later on a feed from newcomer Ben Manny.
With 3:17 to go in the first period, captain Jeff Christian broke in on Dolson for a 2-1 lead before an announced crowd of 3,243.
The lead doubled after Dolson flopped to the ice trying to poke the puck away and Manny hit the open net for a 3-1 lead.
Leveille's power-play goal and a full-strength tally by Loncan (topshelf over St. Germain's right shoulder) tied the score late in the second period.
williams@vindy.com