Phantoms overpower Lincoln in shootout
Published on February 13, 2010 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release
LINCOLN, Neb. - Dave Donnellan's shootout goal capped off a near-perfect performance by the Youngstown Phantoms in the tiebreaker, as they snapped an eight-game losing streak by outgunning the Lincoln Stars 2-1 Saturday night at the Ice Box.
After Cody Strang, Jiri Sekac, and Andrew Lamont had each nailed their attempts against Lincoln goaltender Matt Green, Donnellan lifted a wrister into the top-left corner of the goal to end the five-round shootout one round early. Phantoms goalie Matt Mahalak, who stopped 31 shots prior to the shootout, denied two of three Stars attempts to set up Donnellan's game-winning opportunity.
Adam Berkle netted the only regulation goal for Youngstown (15-25-2, 32 points), which also broke a seven-game road skid dating to Dec. 18 against Indiana. The Phantoms previous win of any kind came over Team USA in Youngstown Jan. 18.
The two sides played to a scoreless first period that was anything but dull. Each team registered 12 shots on goal and had multiple scoring opportunities, but both Mahalak and Green kept any and all rubber out of their respective nets. Youngstown's Ryan Jasinsky dropped the gloves with Chris Del Mauro near the midway point, charging the near-capacity Ice Box congregation into a frenzy with their spirited tilt.
Both the Stars and the Phantoms continued to be on the verge of an offensive breakthrough, but after three straight Youngstown power plays - including a five-on-three chance - went unfulfilled, the penalty balance tilted back in the direction of the home side. But with Lincoln enjoying its own two-man advantage, Berkle took matters into his own hands.
Blocking a left-point slapper by Brodie Reid, Berkle jetted ahead after the loose puck and charged in alone on Green. One deke to the backhand was all it took and the Phantoms had the first goal of the game at 14:35 of the second - as well as the franchise's first ever score while shorthanded by two men.
However, the Stars (12-25-7, 31 points) were awarded a second five-on-three advantage early in the third, and this time they connected to tie the game. Reid spun a shot to the net from the left boards, and Ryan Dzingel converted the rebound to draw Lincoln back into a deadlock with 7:39 gone in the final regulation frame.
The two sides would trade chances late in the third and into overtime, with the Phantoms buzzing the Stars' net repeatedly in sudden death, but a scoreless five-minute frame led to the decisive shootout.
Youngstown finishes its three-games-in-three-days experience with a 6:05 p.m. Eastern time faceoff with the Omaha Lancers Sunday. It will be the first regular-season meeting ever between the two clubs, although they did lock horns in the preseason USHL Fall Classic in late September.
United States Hockey League Stories from February 13, 2010
- Phantoms overpower Lincoln in shootout - Youngstown Phantoms
- Chicago Scores Five Unanswered In Dropping Omaha 5-2 - Omaha Lancers
- U.S. National U18 Team Edged By Russia, 2-1 - U.S. National Team
- U.S. National U17 Team Falls To Slovakia, 5-3, In Vlad Dzurilla Finale - U.S. National Team
- Storm Pummel Stars, Extend Win Streak To Three - Tri-City Storm
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