’Hounds blanked, 5-0 for 2-0 deficit

LOVELAND, Colo. — The Colorado Eagles withstood early dominance by the Youngstown SteelHounds, then scored three times in the second period to capture Game 2 of their best-of-seven Central Hockey League playoff series.

Erik Adams, Seth Leonard and Greg Pankewicz put the puck past SteelHounds goaltender Andy Franck in the middle frame as the Eagles defeated the SteelHounds, 5-0.

It was Youngstown’s second loss in as many nights at the Budweiser Events Center, an arena where Youngstown has an 0-10-1 lifetime record.

The SteelHounds return home tonight to prepare for the next two games that will be played at the Chevrolet Centre. Game 3 will be on Tuesday while Game 4 is set for Thursday. If necessary, Game 5 will be Friday. All games have opening faceoff times of 7:05 p.m.

The SteelHounds outshot the Eagles 11-4 in the penalty-filler opening period. But Eagles goaltender Sebastien Laplante was equal to the challenge as Youngstown was unable to capitalize on three power-play chances.

Defensively, the SteelHounds killed off the Eagles’ lone opportunity with the man advantage.

After the shots advantage grew to 19-5 shooting advantage, the Eagles broke a scoreless tie when Adams scored a power-play goal with 13:25 remaining in the second period. Ryan Tobler and Brad Williamson assisted on the goal that game after SteelHounds defenseman Eric Main was penalized for slashing.

Four minutes later, the Eagles had two more goals. First, Leonard connected on the power play, with Williamson and Scott Polaski assisting. Then Pankewicz scored off assists from Ed McGrane and Les Borsheim.

Late in the third period, Borsheim scored a power-play goal to ice the game. McGrane added an empty-net goal to cap the scoring.

In two playoff games, the CHL’s defending champions have score 10 goals against Franck, who closed the regular season with a 9-0-1 mark in his final 10 starts. Three of those wins were against the Eagles at the Chevrolet Centre.