SteelHounds seal playoff spot

By Tom Williams

The SteelHounds overcame a 3-1 deficit with six straight goals for a 7-4 win.

YOUNGSTOWN — With their second straight Central Hockey League playoff berth secured, the Youngstown SteelHounds celebrated in a subdued fashion.

Friday’s 7-4 victory over the defending champion Colorado Eagles guaranteed the SteelHounds (38-20-5, 81 points) their second straight postseason appearance.

But instead of being satisfied that they are one of five Northern Conference teams who will make the playoffs, SteelHounds captain Chris Richards said their regular season mission isn’t complete.

“We’ve still got one more [tonight],” Richards said after the SteelHounds overcame a 3-1 deficit in the second period by scoring six straight goals. “Against these guys, they are obviously all battles. We want that third seed.”

In his second game back from an ankle injury, Ryan Bennett scored a hat trick, Jeff Genovy netted two goals while Richards and Joel Irving scored one each against Eagles goaltender Sebastien Laplante.

SteelHounds goalie Andy Franck (25-10-4)made 36 saves as he improved to 8-0-1 in his past nine starts.

“Andy Franck was superb tonight,” said SteelHounds coach Kevin Kaminski, noting that his team had been outshot 32-11 after two periods. ”They could have put this game out of reach [early].”

That the SteelHounds are striving to improve their seed instead of scrambling for one more point in the standings just to get in to the postseason is the result of another strong rebound from a sluggish start.

For the second time in three nights at the Chevrolet Centre, the Eagles dominated the SteelHounds for the first 35 minutes. Riley Nelson’s hat trick (all power-play efforts) had the Eagles (37-20-6, 80 points) on their way to clinching their fifth straight division crown.

But just as the SteelHounds’ fortunes shifted late in Wednesday’s second period (a 3-2 come-from-behind victory), the SteelHounds pummeled the Northwest Division leaders, outshooting Colorado 19-8 in the final period.

“They came out flying as expected,” Franck said of the Eagles. “They’ve won this league, they know what it takes to win.

“But we took control,” Franck said. “In the third period, our boys came out to play.”

Trailing 3-1 late in the second period, Genovy scored as Laplante was tangled up with SteelHounds forward Brad Patterson in the crease. About two minutes later, Bennett slipped into the slot and snapped the puck past Laplante (21-12-6) for his first goal and a tie.

“That’s my first career hat trick, I think,” Bennett said. “But the hat trick isn’t important as winning the game, clinching the playoff spot and to be able to sleep at night.”

Before the third period, Kaminski told his players they had another golden opportunity to cap a season of hard work.

“In our own barn, how about we start playing ‘Hound Hockey?’ ” Kaminski said. “It was great to watch.”

Early in the third period, Bennett stole the puck in the Eagles’ zone and flipped a backhand shot past Laplante for the SteelHounds’ first lead. Richards scored two minutes later.

“We’ve been playing [well] defensively, but the past few games have been a little sloppy,” Bennett said. “But we came through when we had to — we kept it close against a really good team, then we put the burners on to go up.

“And we play well with the lead.”

The win keeps the SteelHounds in fourth place in the Northern Conference Youngstown can earn the third seed (and about five days off) if they beat the Eagles tonight (7:05) and if Texas loses at Austin in regulation.

Rocky Mountain’s loss late Friday gave the Eagles the division title and second seed.

williams@vindy.com