SteelHounds' home winless skid hits seven games after 4-1 loss to Ice Bats

Youngstown fell into a 3-0 hole and couldn't climb out to drop to 20-30-4.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Coach J.F. Laforest of the Youngstown SteelHounds was very unhappy after his team fell into a 3-0 hole and eventually suffered a 4-1 loss to the Austin Ice Bats Tuesday night in a Central Hockey League game at the Chevrolet Centre.
He said the SteelHounds (20-30-4) extended their home winless streak to seven games (0-6-1) because they lacked the drive and motivation to overcome obstacles and rally past the Ice Bats (27-24-3), who were led by John McNabb's two goals.
Earlier this season, the Ice Bats lost to the SteelHounds in Austin, 4-3, in their only other meeting this season.
"We didn't show a lot of determination," said Laforest, implying that some players didn't give their best effort. "Some guys need to look at themselves in the mirror."
He also feels that his team is mired in a pessimistic attitude stemming from its home losing streak, and has to break out of it.
Winning formula lost
Although the team has been competitive in all of the last seven home games, they still can't break over the hump and find the winning formula.
"We are feeling sorry for ourselves because of our [winless] streak. This is not acceptable. I don't think we played very well tonight," said Laforest.
Although he was discouraged, he also understands that he is coaching a new team in its first year in a very strong league, and that although he has some good players he also does not have an abundance of talent -- not yet.
"We don't have that much talent. We're a team that has to work hard. We are building for the future," said Laforest. "Some nights some things are not going to go your way. We have to work through it."
Play again tonight
The two teams will return for another game tonight at the Chevrolet Centre ice at 7:05 p.m., before the SteelHounds embark on their final road trip of the season. They will open the road slate at the Memphis River Kings for Friday and Saturday games.
Although falling behind 3-0 after two periods, the SteelHounds still had a chance to bounce back. They cut the deficit to 3-1 on Joey Sewell's power-play, close-range goal at 1:54 of the third period on assists from Jeff Christian and Chris Richards. But they couldn't maintain the momentum.
Laforest said Sewell's goal "was too little, too late."
McNabb blunted Youngstown's comeback with his second goal of the game at 9:14 on Drew Otten's assist to make it 4-1. McNabb slammed a rebound into an open net when SteelHounds goalie David St. Germain was draw to the left by the first shot.
McNabb's goal clincher
"The fourth goal was really big for us, the rebound-goal by McNabb," said Ice Bats coach Bill McDonald. Because, "That was a 3-1 game. Whoever gets the next goal [can change the game]."
The Ice Bats took a 1-0 lead on Jeff Neufeld's power-play goal at 8:00 of the first period on an assist from Darryl McArthur.
Then Austin made it 2-0 early in the second period on Dan Carney's goal at 2:19 with assists from Gerald Tallaire and Aaron Davis. Carney tapped in his goal from close range into the left of the net when St. Germain was drawn to the right side.
The Ice Bats boosted their advantage to 3-0 at 4:25 of the second period on McNabb's first goal that came on a power play with assists from Aaron Schneckloth and Julian Smith. McNabb slipped in the goal on the left of the net after passing in front of it.
kovach@vindy.com