USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Stars Rally Late, Grab Shootout Win Over Phantoms

Published on November 27, 2009 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The Youngstown Phantoms went through their first 16 games in the United States Hockey League without participating in a shootout. When they finally did enter one, it was the last place they wanted to be.

The Lincoln Stars' John McCarron lifted the puck past Phantoms goalie Matt Mahalak in the fifth round of the shootout, followed by Matt Green's save on Youngstown's Brian Dowd to clinch a 5-4 win for the visiting Stars Friday night at the Covelli Centre, who trailed 4-2 with less than three minutes to go in regulation.

Phantoms blueliner Luke Eibler converted Brett Gensler's centering pass with 3:56 to go in the third for his second goal of the game and a two-goal Youngstown advantage, but a pair of Lincoln power play markers evened the score.

After Brodie Reid ripped one through a screen with 2:38 left to make it 4-3, Kyle Gibbons found Phantoms nemesis Ben Lynch, who deposited a perfectly placed one-timer with 12.4 seconds remaining to stunningly send the contest into overtime. Lynch scored two goals, including the overtime game winner, Oct. 16 in Lincoln, Neb., in the Stars' 7-6 win.

Lincoln (7-12-0, 14 points) claimed the shootout by a 2-1 count, with Phantoms defenseman Andrej Sustr rifling one through Green in the second round only to be answered immediately by Lincoln's Dominik Shine. The two teams will collide again Saturday night at the same location.

Each team was whistled for 14 penalties for 34 minutes, which was a worthy encore of the Oct. 16 Youngstown-Lincoln clash which saw the clubs combine for 131 total penalty minutes. Twin Phantoms enforcers Ryan Jasinsky and Rich Young, the USHL leader in PIM with 89, both dropped the gloves Friday, squaring off against Lincoln's Dax Lauwers and Hibbeler, respectively.

Youngstown (8-7-2, 18 points), down 1-0 after the first period due to Reid's shorthanded tally, poured on the offense in the second, scoring three goals and chasing Stars starting goaltender Jared Coreau, who stopped seven of nine shots. Eibler's 40-foot wrister found twine 37 seconds into the second, then Nick Czinder tossed his seventh of the campaign into the goal from the left wing side from a similar distance at 4:31.

That was enough for Lincoln head coach Jimmy McGroarty, who yanked Coreau in favor of Green after Czinder's thunderbolt. Brian Dowd added to the Stars' misery, though, when he beat Green through the legs at 11:38 with the Phantoms enjoying a 5-on-3 power play. Sustr earned the primary assist, tying him with Taylor Holstrom for the team lead with 10. Youngstown has now scored at least one power play goal in six of its last seven games.

Stars defenseman Cory Hibbeler punched in a David Gerths rebound with 1:08 left in the middle frame to draw the visitors within striking distance at 3-2.

Green turned away nine of 11 and four of five in the shootout to earn his second win of the season; Mahalak (4-4-2) made 28 stops for Youngstown.

The Phantoms' current five-game homestand rolls on tomorrow night against Lincoln at 7:15 p.m. Santa Claus visits the Covelli Centre as part of Hockey Holidays! Bring your wish list for the Jolly Old Elf to inspect and also enter to win Santa hats decorated by Phantoms players.

Check out the Youngstown Phantoms Statistics

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United States Hockey League Stories from November 27, 2009


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