SteelHounds out of first after 4-2 loss to Mudbugs

Youngstown returns home this weekend to host
RiverKings.

BOSSIER CITY, La. — The Youngstown SteelHounds fell out of first place in the Central Hockey League’s Northeast Division with a 4-2 loss to the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs Saturday night.

The SteelHounds (17-8-1) trailed 2-0 in the first period, tied the score early in the third, then surrendered a power-play goal midway through the final period.

Karlis Zirnis and Kevin Cooper scored less than three minutes apart in the first period to give the Mudbugs (15-7-3) a 2-0 lead.

Youngstown’s Chris Richards scored his 11th goal of the season with just 14 seconds remaining in the second period on assists from Jason Baird and Joel Irving.

Baird has a team-leading 10-game point streak for the SteelHounds.

Youngstown tied the score on a wrister by Jeff Alocmbrack just 1:06 into the third period. Irving and Bryan Lachapelle had the assists.

The SteelHounds were whistled for 18 penalties in the game and it caught up to them midway though the third period.

The Mudbugs were just 1-of-12 on the power play, but Cooper’s second goal of the night game at 9:37 with a man advantage.

Chris Brassard’s empty net goal with four seconds closed out the scoring.

Youngstown outshot Bossier-Shreveport 31-28, but was 0-for-4 on the power play.

Youngstown will play host to the Mississippi RiverKings Friday and Saturday at the Chevrolet Centre. Both games are scheduled to start at 7:05 p.m. Mississippi (18-6-1) leads the Northeast Division by two points over the SteelHounds.