Patterson's shootout goal is the clincher in 2-1 win

By GREG GULAS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
YOUNGSTOWN -- For the fourth time in their last six outings, the Youngstown SteelHounds were extended beyond regulation in order to decide the outcome of their game.
Fortunately, their game with the Corpus Christi Rayz fell on Friday, the day of the week that they have enjoyed their most success this season.
With the score knotted at a goal apiece after both regulation and the overtime session, and tied 2-2 in the shootout, Brad Patterson calmly netted the game-winner with Youngstown's final shot of the shootout, as the SteelHounds defeated the Rayz, 2-1 in a Central Hockey League game at the Chevrolet Centre.
Records
The SteelHounds (8-3-3) improved to 5-1-1 at home and 3-1-1 on their six-game homestand.
They also moved to 5-1 on Friday nights, a statistic which pleased both Patterson and coach Kevin Kaminski.
"You basically don't think of the game being on the line when you're in the shootout. You just want to make sure that their goalie has to make a save, and fortunately the puck rolled up on me and I was able to sneak it through," Patterson said.
"Both goalies had excellent games tonight so hats off to each of them. We kind of waited around for an ugly goal but that just didn't happen. Anytime you have to go the extra session and can come away with a win, it is satisfying and that is the feeling that we have tonight."
Jeff Christian got the SteelHounds on the board first with his seventh goal of the year at 12:51 of the opening period.
A goal by Jason Lepine at 18:06 of the second stanza then tied the game at a goal apiece, despite the fact that the SteelHounds held a 31-10 shots on goal advantage after the first 40 minutes of play.
A scoreless third period in which Youngstown held a slight 10-8 shot advantage forced the extra session.
Best 60 minutes
"Make no mistake about it. Their goalie, [Brent] Zelenewich played one whale of a game. On the flip side, I felt that we played our best 60 minutes of the season tonight. We skated and hit and while we had our opportunities, the puck just wouldn't go in for us," Kaminski said.
"I was really proud of their overall effort tonight. If we play like that night in and night out, then we're going to win a lot of games.
"After tonight's game, I feel like we are on the right track but we'll have to build off of this effort. We keep talking about the killer instinct, but when you are up 2-0 like we were Wednesday night and you let teams hang around, only bad things can happen. It doesn't matter how you get it done, you just have to get it done and we did just that tonight."
Jason Baird's goal gave the Rayz a 1-0 advantage in the shootout, but Chris Richards' goal on the SteelHounds' third attempt knotted the score at a goal apiece.
Tying it
Justin Quenneville answered Richards' tally on their very next attempt for a 2-1 Corpus Christi lead, but a goal by Youngstown's Brian Teixeira tied it a two goals apiece.
After Kevin Watters failed on the Rayz' final attempt, Patterson nailed the game-winner.
Youngstown held a 48-18 shots on goal advantage and David Currie evened his record at 3-3-2 while in goal for the SteelHounds.
The teams will meet tonight at 7:05 at the Chevrolet Centre in the final game of the three-game series.