The Youngstown Phantoms' only road trip of November kicks off Friday night in South Dakota's largest city as they lock horns with the Sioux Falls Stampede for the first time ever. The Phantoms will complete their Siouxland excursion Saturday in Sioux City, Iowa, against the Musketeers.The Phantoms (8-5-117 pts, T-4th in East) have won six of their last seven, including four of five on their just-completed homestand, to climb to within two points of first-place Cedar Rapids. The first two victories of the current run came on the road in Fargo Oct. 30-31; Youngstown boasts a 4-1-1 record away from the Covelli Centre, outscoring its opponents 28-23 in hostile arenas.
The Stampede (9-1-422 pts, 2nd in West) are in the midst of 14 of their first 18 games at home, where they've racked up a 7-1-3 record and 17 of their 22 points. Sioux Falls, five points back of torrid Omaha for the top spot in the West Division, is averaging 4.27 goals per game on their home ice and has surrendered only 34 scores overall, second-best in the USHL to Omaha's 33.
PHANTOM PHACTS
- On the strength of seven power-play goals in their last four games, the Phantoms have seen their man-advantage unit rise to third-best in the entire 14-team league with a 23.5 percent conversion rate. On the season, Youngstown's power play has been shut out only four times and just twice in its last 12 contests.
- F Taylor Holstrom's three-point effort in last Saturday's 7-6 OT victory over Chicago moved him into 15th place on the league's scoring leaderboard. The second-year USHL player has five goals and 15 points in 14 games; he totaled eight goals and 19 points in 55 contests with Omaha last season. In addition, Holstrom's +11 plus/minus rating is tied for third-best in the league.
- Youngstown got a pair of goals in the Chicago win from 6-6 F Nick Czinder on his only two shots of the tilt, increasing his league-leading shooting percentage to a remarkable 46.2. Fellow first-year F Rich Young is the USHL frontrunner in both penalty minutes (77) and major penalties (five).
STAMPEDING IN SIOUXLAND
- The Stampede's stifling team defense (2.43 goals against/game) is backstopped by the goaltending tandem of Lino Chimienti and Clay Witt. Both have started and finished seven games, but Chimienti holds the slight edge in wins (five to four), goals-against average (1.81 to 2.38), save percentage (.919 to.896) and shutouts (one to zero).
- While half the league's teams, including the Phantoms, still haven't participated in a shootout, the Stampede have engaged in a USHL-leading four - and have lost all of them. As good as Sioux Falls' goaltending has been during regulation and overtime, it's been remarkably poor in the tiebreaker with Chimienti and Witt combining to give up 11 shootout goals in 21 attempts.
- Sioux Falls joined the USHL for the 1999-2000 season and the Stampede have hoisted Anderson Cup (2005-06) and Clark Cup (2006-07) championship banners into the rafters of the Sioux Falls Arena. Kevin Hartzell is in his fifth season as head coach/GM and notable Stampede alumni include Thomas Vanek, T.J. Oshie, Chad Larose and current Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Alex Goligoski.
UPCOMING HOME GAMES AT THE COVELLI CENTRE...
Friday, November 27 at 7:15 p.m. vs. Lincoln - Bald Is Beautiful Night / Buy tickets at your local Casal's Salon - $3 from each ticket bought there will go to Wigs For Kids. Stay tuned for additional promotions!
Saturday, November 28 at 7:15 p.m. vs. Lincoln - Hockey Holidays / Santa Claus visits the Phantoms! Bring your Christmas list and meet/take pictures with the Jolly Old Elf himself.
Friday, December 3 at 7:15 p.m. vs. Chicago - Pheed the Valley / Join the Phantoms and WFMJ-TV in donating to Second Harvest Food Bank. Bring a non-perishable food item and receive a half-priced ticket OR donate five and get in free!
CATCH PHANTOMS PHEVER!
Phantoms Phever, presented by House of Speed, is an hour-long weekly talk show that brings you an inside look at your Youngstown Phantoms. Join Voice of the Phantoms Matt Gajtka at Jeremiah Bullfrog's Sports Bar & Grille on US Route 224 in Boardman as he chats with coaches, players and front office staff about northeast Ohio's most exciting team and the great sport of hockey.
Catch Phantoms Phever Tuesdays at 6 p.m. on Youngstown's ESPN Radio 1240 AM or online at www.wbbw.com!
FOLLOW THE PHANTOMS ALL SEASON LONG
ESPN 1240 is also the exclusive radio home for the Youngstown Phantoms! Gajtka has the call from all 60 Phantoms regular season games as they roll through their first-ever campaign in the Tier I United States Hockey League. Hockey nuts outside the listening area can log onto www.wbbw.com to utilize the "Listen Live" feature!
Fans may also purchase the Phantoms season pass at www.b2tv.com to watch and listen via the B2 Networks' multimedia game broadcasts.
Also, make "Youngstown Phantoms" your friend on Facebook and follow "ytownphantoms" on Twitter to stay plugged into the Phantoms 24 hours a day, seven days a week!
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