Hound output is short by 3-2

The SteelHounds blew a chance to gain ground in
the playoff chase.

By TOM WILLIAMS

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — Despite peppering Oklahoma City goaltender Sean Connors with 44 shots including a season-high 22 for one period, the Youngstown SteelHounds squandered a chance to gain ground in a tight conference playoff chase.

Blazers forward Dallas Flaman’s third-period goal was the difference as Oklahoma City rallied for a 3-2 victory Saturday at the Chevrolet Centre.

“It was sloppy hockey, it wasn’t sharp hockey,” said SteelHounds forward Kevin Jarman who scored his 15th goal of the season. “It wasn’t good.”

The loss keeps Youngstown (28-17-3, 59 points) tied with the Colorado Eagles for third place in the Central Hockey League’s Northern Conference race.

“We played well, but we took too many lazy penalties,” SteelHounds coach Kevin Kaminski said.

Garrett Prosofsky made them pay, scoring two power-play goals for the Blazers (21-22-6, 46 points).

“This one hurts because we had a chance to gain some ground on either Mississippi or Texas,” Kaminski said. “We had a chance for that killer instinct to bury these guys. But we lacked passion and emotion.”

After Prosofsky’s first goal beat goaltender Kevin Beech midway through the first period, the SteelHounds were in danger of falling behind by two when Jason Baird was whistled for hooking.

Instead, the Blazers’ opportunity worked in Youngstown’s favor when Mark Odut picked up a rebound off Connors’ pads and scored the SteelHounds’ 13th shorthanded goal of the season.

Late in the opening period, Jarman put the SteelHounds ahead when he beat Connors with a shot into the far corner of the net.

“I got a pass from the point [from Petr Pohl] and I was just kind of circling,” Jarman said. “I had a guy in front of me and I had a sense of where the goalie was. So I had a little [target] and [let it go].”

The teams combined for 37 shots in the first period, including 22 by the SteelHounds (one short of the franchise record).

“A lot of those shots were from the perimeter and their goalie was able to see them,” Jarman said. “We’ve got to take it right up to his eyes and get some bodies in front.”

Prosofsky’ second goal tied the game early in the second period, which was highlighted by two bouts. First, Milan Maslonka (back from one game with the American Hockey League’s Albany River Rats) fought Justin Sawyer.

Then as they were preparing to leave the penalty box, David Simoes tangled with Erick Lizon.

About five minutes into the third period, Flaman deflected a pass from Jason Seerey for the Blazers’ third goal.

Although the SteelHounds kept the puck in the Blazers’ zone late in the game, they were unable to push it past Connors (9-9-3).

“To stop 42 shots, he was definitely a difference,” Kaminski said. “We had some good quality chances.

“We’ve got to give them credit,” said Kaminski of the Blazers’ rally. “We let them hang around. They gutted it out tonight.”

Beech (2-1) stopped 28 shots in losing his first game as a SteelHound.

The SteelHounds played their second game minus top scorer Eric Przepiorka (21 goals, 35 assists) who was injured in last Sunday’s win against Mississippi. Przepiorka is expected to be able to play on next week’s road trip but not in today’s series finale at 4:05 p.m.

“Everybody’s got to step up and score, there’s no doubt,” Jarman said of Przepiorka’s absence. “And we’ve got to bring a better game than tonight.”

williams@vindy.com