USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Countdown To Puck Drop: Phantoms Vs. Lincoln

Published on November 25, 2009 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


The Youngstown Phantoms and Lincoln Stars match glares Friday for the second time this season in a rematch of one of the most exciting games of the USHL season. At the Ice Box in Lincoln Oct. 16, these two clubs combined for seven goals in the first period alone en route to a 7-6 overtime victory by the Stars, courtesy of F Ben Lynch's second goal of the tilt. In addition, Youngstown set a season high with 71 penalty minutes that night, 27 of those taken by D Andrej Sustr.

The Phantoms (8-7-117 pts, 5th in East) return to the Covelli Centre to commence another five-game homestand after dropping a pair in Sioux Falls, S.D., and Sioux City, Iowa, last weekend. Youngstown captured four of five games on its recently-completed five-game stay in northeast Ohio, capped off by a thrill-a-minute 7-6 OT win over Chicago.

The Stars (6-11-012 pts, 7th in West) were a respectable 3-2-0 after topping the Phantoms in the teams' previous meeting, but a 1-8-0 slide condemned them to the bottom of the West Division, a prison from which they've yet to escape. While Lincoln has defended its treacherous Ice Box in an acceptable fashion, a 3-8-0 mark on the road surely falls into the "unacceptable" category.

PHANTOM PHACTS

- Although the Phantoms ultimately fell 4-2 at Sioux City last Saturday, giving them back-to-back road losses for the first time all season, F Brian Dowd certainly pulled his share of the offensive load. The Buffalo-area native rang up a goal (his fifth) and an assist to pull into a second-place tie on the Phantoms scoring list with F Brett Gensler at 12 points. Dowd now has nine points (3 G, 6 A) in his last nine games.

- After getting outshot 32-30 by Sioux Falls and 35-19 at Sioux City, Youngstown has been outpaced in that particular category six straight times and 12 of 16 games overall. Only East Division rival Waterloo has been outshot as many times, but the Phantoms are holding their own in such situations, posting a 5-6-1 record.

- A four-goal first period, tying for the Phantoms' largest output in a single stanza, was the highlight in Youngstown 7-6 OT loss in Lincoln Oct. 16, the first-ever meeting between the two franchises. F Taylor Holstrom put together a three-point night, featuring the Phantoms' first and last goals of the contest, joining Dowd (2 G) and first-year F Adam Berkle (2 A) on the multi-point parade.

Star gazing

- Pending Lincoln's Wednesday night matchup with Indiana, first-year USHL F Dominik Shine has built a slight lead in the Stars scoring race with a team-high seven assists and 11 points overall. A trio of fellow rookie forwards are tailgating just one point back, with Brodie Reid (6 G, 4 A), Ben Lynch (5 G, 5 A) and Tucker Brockett (4 G, 6 A) providing most of the excitement for offensively-challenged Lincoln, scoring a league-low 2.29 goals per game.

- In addition to their road record, other bugaboos for the Stars include their 13th-ranked power play conversion rate (12.4 percent), their 80 percent penalty-killing rate (11th of 14 teams), their 2-8-0 record against fellow West Division clubs and their third-worst shots-on-goal per game average of 27.

- The Stars twice put together three-goal rallies against Youngstown Oct. 16. The first burst came in the first period, turning a 1-0 deficit into a 3-1 lead; the second surge closed the scoring, as F Garrett Peterson, F Andrew Ammon and Lynch each lit the lamp to eclipse a 6-4 Phantoms advantage in the third.

Upcoming home games at the covelli Centre...

Friday at 7:15 p.m. vs. Lincoln - Bald Is Beautiful / Anyone bald (or shaved) gets in for half price! Buy tickets at your local Casal's Salon - $3 from each ticket bought there will go to Wigs For Kids, supporting children in need of hair replacement.

Saturday at 7:15 p.m. vs. Lincoln - Hockey Holidays / Santa Claus visits the Phantoms! Make ornaments with the Phantoms and enter to win Santa hats decorated by the players. Also, buy your teddy bear for the following Saturday's Teddy Bear Toss for only $5 and receive a half-priced ticket to the Dec. 5 game! $3 from each bear goes to Toys For Tots.

Friday, December 4 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; donate five and get both a half-priced ticket AND a free ticket to a future game!

Saturday, December 5 at 7:15 p.m. vs. Chicago - Toys For Tots Night & Teddy Bear Toss / WYTV-TV combines with the Marines' Toys For Tots program on this special night. Bring a new, unwrapped toy and receive a half-priced ticket. Also, donate a new stuffed animal by throwing it onto the ice after the Phantoms score their first goal. Help us cover the ice and support Toys For Tots during the holiday season!

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 and online at www.wbbw.com!

FOLLOW THE PHANTOMS ALL SEASON LONG

ESPN 1240 is also the exclusive radio home for the Youngstown Phantoms! Matt 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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United States Hockey League Stories from November 25, 2009


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