Published: Sunday, March 18, 2007
Good effort, but 'Hounds fall to Eagles
The loss virtually ensures Youngstown will start the playoffs on the road.
By TOM WILLIAMS
YOUNGSTOWN — For the second straight night, the Youngstown SteelHounds came up one goal short of the Central Hockey League's best team.
Despite outshooting the Colorado Eagles (44-15-1, 89 points) 26-18 and controlling much of the play in the first two periods, the SteelHounds lost, 2-1, Saturday at the Chevrolet Centre.
"We came to play tonight, but we just didn't bury our chances," said defenseman Stephen Margeson who scored the SteelHounds goal late in the first period.
The loss essentially assures that the SteelHounds (31-19-10, 72 points) will enter the playoffs as the Northern Conference's fourth- or fifth-seed, which means no home-ice advantage and opening on the road.
Unhappy coach
Before leaving the ice, SteelHounds coach Kevin Kaminski had an animated conversation with linesmen Chris Allman and Andy Thackaberry.
In the final 22 seconds, Eagles goaltender Paulo Colaiacovo made a save in his crease and the ensuing faceoff was moved to center ice, prompting Kaminski's ire.
With 8:06 remaining and the score tied 1-1, Seth Leonard skated behind the SteelHounds goal and beat goalie Brad Roberts with a wraparound shot.
Because of a winterstorm on the East Coast, ESPN personalities Barry Melrose and Steve Levy were unable to get flights and missed the game.
"We're not pleased, but you can't control the weather," SteelHounds general manager Joe Gregory said. "We would like to bring them in for a playoff game."
Intense game
The game was feisty from the opening faceoff. SteelHounds defender Josh Reed was tossed from the game after kneeing forward Brent Hughes (five-minute major penalty, game misconduct) and then fighting Fraser Filipic (five more minutes).
Filipic's two-minute instigating penalty reduced Colorado's man-advantage to three-minutes.
Margeson broke the scoreless tie when he pounced on a rebound off Colaiacovo and tapped the puck into the unguarded net. Jeff Christian set up the goal by skating deep into the Eagles' zone, then passing to Mark Odut who fired the puck at Coloaiacovo.
"It came off the pad and I came in from the point, picked up the puck and put it into the empty net," Margeson said.
The SteelHounds had multiple chances in the second period to extend the lead but Colaiacovo was equal to the task. Three Eagles penalties within 86 minutes gave the SteelHounds an extended two-man advantage.
But then Christian, the SteelHounds captain, was called for highsticking and unsportmanlike conduct with 1:12 remaining on the Eagles' final infraction.
The Eagles capitalized when Ryan Tobler won a faceoff in the SteelHounds end. Defenseman Brad Williamson sent the back to Riley Nelson who skated through the slot and then beat Roberts with a rising backhand shot.
williams@vindy.com
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