SteelHounds cap long road trip with 4-3 win over Texas for 12th

The Phantoms beat Traverse City, 5-1, for their 14th win
of the year.

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, Texas — The Youngstown SteelHounds finished their 34-day, 14-game season-opening road trip on a high note as they defeated the Texas Brahmas, 4-3, Saturday night.

The Brahmas struck first as Cameron Jordan scored his second goal of the season to put Texas up 1-0 after one period.

Youngstown came back as Eric Przepiorka scored his eight goal of the year at 10:02 to tie the game at one after two periods. Przepiorka’s goal was one of two power play goals for the Hounds on the evening.

In the third period Jason Baird tipped a Kurtis Dulle slap shot past David Cacciola at just 16 seconds to make it 2-1 Youngstown.  It is Baird’s second goal of the season and first as a SteelHound.  Milan Maslonka put the icing on the cake with an empty net goal with eight seconds to play to give the Hounds the 3-1 win. Both of Maslonka’s goal this season have been against Texas.

Andy Franck made 22 saves on 23 shots to preserve the victory. The Brahmas have only scored one goal in each contest against the Hounds this season.

Youngstown finished the road trip with a 12-1-1 record and remained unbeaten all-time (10-0-0) against the Brahmas.

The SteelHounds finally get to play a home game, when they play host to Bossier-Shreveport Friday and Saturday at the Chevrolet Centre.

Phantoms win rubber match

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — The Mahoning Valley Phantoms scored three power play goals to defeat the Traverse City North Stars, 5-1, Sunday.

The Phantoms (14-6-2) moved to within four points of first place St. Louis in the NAHL’s North Division.

For the third straight game, the Phantoms opened the scoring, on Brent Dexter’s goal past Stars goaltender Chris Paliafito to give Mahoning Valley 8 minutes, 40 seconds into the game. Stefan Salituro and Eric Ringel assisted on Dexter’s 12th of the season.

The North Stars tied the score early in the second period, when Joe Greener deflected a puck off Dexter’s skate and behind Phantoms goaltender Garrett Bartus.

The Phantoms answered with a power play at 12:06 of the second. Adam Snead one-timed a pass from Grant Blakey over the blocker of Paliafito.

The Phantoms scored three goals in the final period, by Derek Graham, Chad Boeckman and Miles Winter, the latter two on the power play.

Mahoning Valley was 3-for-8 on the power play and Traverse City (8-6-4) was 0-for-4.

Mahoning Valley out-shot the Stars 29-18 and Bartus made 17 saves for his ninth win of the season.

The Phantoms visit the U.S. National Under-17 team Tuesday night at 7:30 in Ann Arbor, Mich