SteelHounds’ road woes continue with 5-2 loss in Bossier City

Goaltender Andy Franck will return to the team from the AHL.

BOSSIER CITY, La. — The Youngstown SteelHounds’ recent road woes continued Tuesday with a 5-2 loss to the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs

The SteelHounds have lost four straight road games as well as their past four games to the Mudbugs.

Chris Brassard had two goals and two assists for the Mudbugs. Brett Smith, Tyrel Lucas and Kevin Cooper scored the other goals.

For the SteelHounds, Kirill Starkov tied the game at 1-1 with a power play goal at 9:41 of the first period. Starkov has a five-game point streak. Jeff Alcombrack scored the other SteelHounds goal on a power play.

The Hounds out shot the Bugs 17-5 in the third period and 35-34 for the game, but Ken Carroll made 33 saves to propel the Mudbugs to their 15th-straight home victory and 11th straight overall.

The SteelHounds began the season with a 12-1-1 road record. Youngstown is 20-9-2 (42 points) and are three back of the Mudbugs (21-7-3, 45 points) for first place in the Northeast Division.

The SteelHounds will stay on the road as they take on the Mississippi RiverKings on Friday and Saturday at 8:05 p.m.

Franck returns

Goaltender Andy Franck was reassigned to the SteelHounds by the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League.

Franck, 26, was called up to Providence in November and recorded a 7-1-1 record with a 2.71 goals against average and a .890 save percentage.

Franck, in his third year from Lakewood, was 11-2-1 with Youngstown with a 2.40 goals against average and a .911 save percentage. He will be the Northern Conference starter for the Central Hockey League All-Star Game Jan. 16 in Broomfield, Colo.