USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Morris Slams Door As Indiana Blanks Phantoms

Published on December 10, 2009 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Twenty-one games into their first USHL season, the Youngstown Phantoms may have found their first true nemesis.

Indiana goaltender Cab Morris made 22 saves to register his league-leading third shutout and Bryon Paulazzo notched two points as the visiting Ice stymied the Phantoms 3-0 Thursday night at the Covelli Centre. Youngstown will get an attempt at revenge next Friday night in Indianapolis as the Ice host the Phantoms for the first time.

Youngstown, which outshot Indiana 22-20 on the evening, dropped to 0-2-0 against the defending Clark Cup champions and was blanked at home for the first time this season and second time overall. Sioux Falls shut out the Phantoms by the same score Nov. 21.

Jordan Tibbett (5-4-0) made 17 saves and was stuck with the tough-luck loss in net for the Phantoms, who saw a two-game winning streak come to an end. Youngstown finished its just completed five-game homestand 2-2-1, but won't return to the Covelli Centre until Dec. 29 against Waterloo.

Following a scoreless first frame, Paulazzo put the Ice on top with his sixth of the campaign just after an Indiana penalty expired. A two-on-one rush developed with Nic Dowd breaking down the left wing, who quickly centered for the charging Paulazzo, who converted the saucer pass at 7:43 of the second.

Paulazzo was also part of a sharp give-and-go play that resulted in a 2-0 Ice advantage at 6:45 of the third period. With Indiana on the power play, the California native somehow set up Max Cook at the left doorstep, passing with his stick between his legs and the puck behind him. Cook tried to return the favor at the right post, but it deflected into the Youngstown goal off the Phantoms' David Donnellan, giving Cook his eighth red light.

John Parker closed out the scoring when he stopped hard at the bottom of the left circle and threw a wrister into the top left corner of the goal to make it a three-goal margin with 2:38 left in the game. Indiana outshot the Phantoms 13-6 in the final stanza.

In a penalty-filled contest - Youngstown took 14 minors, Indiana committed 10 - the teams went a combined 1-for-14 on the power play with the visitors turning in a 1-for-9 effort and the Phantoms coming up empty on five tries.

Go to http://www.pointstreak.com/prostats/boxscore.html?gameid1048925 for full box score.

The Phantoms head to the road for four in a row over the next two weekends prior to the USHL's Christmas break. To begin that stretch, Youngstown collides with the US National Team's Under-17 squad Friday (7:05 p.m.) and Saturday (4:05) at the Ice Cube in Ann Arbor, Mich. Follow the Phantoms on the road via Youngstown's ESPN 1240 (www.wbbw.com) and the B2 Networks at www.b2tv.com.

Check out the Youngstown Phantoms Statistics

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United States Hockey League Stories from December 10, 2009


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